It all started in October 2008, during a trip to Africa by Didier Martin – Castagno. Passionate about spearfishing, this history teacher at the College of Montesoro in Bastia went to the Los Islands, located off the coast of Guinea-Conakry, to practice his hobby there.
The archipelago comprises three main islands: Tamara, Kassa and Room. While on the very poor island of Kassa, he noticed the daily presence of many children on the beach, often lending a hand to professional fishermen. The one who serves as his guide on the spot, Abou Samake, a linguistics professor in Conakry, then makes him point out the shortcomings in terms of education on this island of several thousand inhabitants. Only one school exists for the 4 villages of the island. A school built in 1938 and which accommodates up to 150 pupils per class, out of 600 children who can be educated in primary school, lessons being provided even for half-days due to lack of space. However, children from the villages of Sorro and Mangué located on the other side of the island, more than 8 km away, cannot go there. Distance, but also dangerousness of the journey, a path (no roads) strewn with pitfalls of all kinds, including human ones. Also most of the children of these 2 villages must reluctantly give up education.
Touched by the fact, back in Bastia, Didier Martin-Castagno then created l’association Abou Sorro with the project of building a school on site. Very quickly Didier was joined by fellow teachers and the project took shape. The construction budget is estimated at around €10,000. A budget that will quickly increase to 50,000 euros because the association realizes that a single building will not be able to accommodate all the students. We therefore start with a school group of 3 buildings and some 50,000 €.
A gateway between two islands
To obtain this amount, the association focused on two main sources of income: solidarity education projects and second-hand goods. Didier Martin Castagno and other teachers from the colleges of Montesoro and Joan of Arc in Bastia, thus carry out various solidarity activities with their students, in particular on the Place Saint-Nicolas in Bastia where several sales of confectionery and small objects are organized. 2nd source of income, the flea market. Didier Martin-Castagno is passionate about it On flea markets and in various television programs on France 2 and M6, objects are sold for the benefit of the association. At the same time, in Guinea, Abou Samake has set up a stand selling souvenirs, tourism is great there, for the benefit of the association. This chain of solidarity and the involvement of all of Abou Sorro’s volunteers initially generated more than €14,000 and thus financed almost 50% of the project.
Effective help from the University of Corsica
To limit the costs as closely as possible, the plans are made from the work of a group of 6 students from the Master SEER of the University of Corsica supervised by two professors: Philippe Poggi and Marc Muselli. On site in Kassa, a family from the island also offers the association the land to build the school complex. In situ, a Guinean architect and the population help voluntarily: land clearing, manufacture of aggregates… the population is enthusiastic about the project and everyone rolls up their sleeves.
On May 5, 2018, the first stone was laid in the presence of the local authorities of the island of Kassa, including the sub-prefect and the representative of the Ministry of Social Action of Women’s Action and Childhood, thus confirming the support of the Guinean government to the Abou Sorro project.
« Since the launch of the site in 2018, we have made regular visits to Sorro underlines Didier Martin-Castagno who meanwhile, in 2016, took up a teaching position in Cherbourg. Despite this, the Corsican network continues to operate with local volunteers who receive support from municipalities. The association with its various actions finally manages to balance the budget.
After a period of earthworks, two side buildings came out of the ground and were inaugurated in November 2020. Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic prevents Didier and his volunteers from attending. ” We had planned our trip to Toussaint but with the COVID it could not be done » says Didier Martin-Castagno. ” Today the school already welcomes several hundred children. rejoices Didier, “The teachers, appointed by the government, which also provides the necessary equipment, have 2 buildings housing 2 classes each, CP to CM2. The 3e building should be delivered at the end of the year or the beginning of 2024, it will include a classroom, a canteen and a library ».
Ultimately, thanks to the association, the Sorro-Mangué school group will be able to accommodate 600 students.
“We are now going to be able to enter a second phase which consists of supporting teachers and providing equipment » adds Joëlle Le Mouellic, head of the UNSS Haute-Corse and active volunteer of « Abou Sorro ». ” It should be noted that the island has no electricity and that we operate in the old fashioned way with blackboards, chalks, slates ».
All the same, it took more than 14 years of hard work by the association’s volunteers of all stripes to achieve this fine result. A work slowed down it is true by Ebola and Coronavirus. “Thank you all for their work” says Didier. “We were all very moved when in 2022, the school organized its 1st fair and we hope to be numerous at the inauguration of the 3rd building. We are now going to get down to setting up a sponsorship. A Corsican family will thus be able to sponsor a schoolboy from Sorro Mangué to help him with his schooling. This will also help to forge links between the two islands. ».
