“Lire is having your eyes and your heart wide open to the world.” The dedication is signed Francine Conrad, head of the “ACDM libraries” project of the Monegasque association Au coeur des mots, on the back of the cover of the book which accompanied some 6,000 other collections sent this summer to Senegal.
The culmination of a project launched by this collective of women convinced that education is a decisive vector for changing mentalities.
“The idea for the project started south of Dakar, during a visit to a village in the bush. We noticed that there was a very cute library. It just really lacked books”rembobine Francine Conrad.
The association then sets itself the objective of recovering books that French and Monegasque schools and libraries no longer use in order to send them to those who need them.
Training for librarians
The city of Menton, the town hall of Monaco – via the media library – and the city of Nice quickly responded to this call for donations.
“In total, we raised 6,000 pounds in about two months.” School textbooks, but not only that, for children attending school from nursery to middle school, were collected, sorted, packaged and stored in record time, before being transported by boat to Senegal.
On site, the Sococim foundation, which works for the benefit of social inclusion, was responsible for distribution to the libraries identified to receive donations. Eight in total, including five school libraries in the Rufisque area (in the Dakar region). “And these are very large schools which welcome between 600 and 1,200 students”specifies Francine Conrad.
Reading books, school textbooks, educational guides for teachers, dictionaries, have thus come to populate the shelves of these establishments where the librarians will receive training provided by the International Organization of the Francophonie, partner of the Monegasque association in this solidarity initiative .
“This first project was a success but we cannot stop there”confides Hilde Haneuse-Heye, founding president of Au coeur des mots. The collective has therefore given itself the mission of renewing the project in 2025 and developing it.
Also, a partnership protocol was signed in mid-December with the Monaco town hall to acknowledge the Principality's involvement in the ramp-up of the project.
“The dissemination of culture, literacy and the education of boys and girls are among the areas of action supported by the princely family. The town hall is very honored to be able to contribute to a project which carries these humanist ambitions and generous”underlined Georges Marsan on the day of signing.
A goal of 20,000 books in 2025
“We left for this pilot project with 6,000 pounds. We are going to take a bet and try to have 20,000 for 2025,” hopes Francine Conrad. L
The objective has been launched and for this, the Au coeur des mots association is calling on all those of good will.
“We need you, partners, companies to store and transport these books. But also people who are ready to make a donation to buy books by Senegalese authors on site and promote culture, literature, in global solidarity”lance Hilde Haneuse-Heye.
To contact the Au coeur des mots association: [email protected]
Around Mayor Georges Marsan, the actors of this solidarity project in favor of culture and education, led by the Monegasque association Au coeur des mots, during the signing of the partnership protocol in mid-December. (Photo J.-F. Ottonello)
During the “ACDM libraries” project, the volunteers met Diorsene. The Senegalese woman, at the head of a network of 130 women entrepreneurs, launched a pilot project in her native village of Ndiaganiao where she teaches French to women. “We started this project with 22 women and three volunteer teachers to teach these women to read, count and write”explains the entrepreneur.
The Au coeur des mots association is committed to Diorsene to develop its initiative. Women who come to learn French will be able to benefit from books sent as part of the library project. A sort of continuity for the volunteers of the Monegasque association. “Often, these women only speak Wolof and want to learn French for a whole bunch of reasons but also to have greater social and economic emancipation “, explains Francine Conrad.
And Diorsene clarified: “My goal is to make this initiative a reality in 2025 and to develop it everywhere in villages and rural areas. And also promote Senegal.”
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