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Dakar Girls Ride Waves, Reclaim Education
6 Feb
Summary
- Surf academy in Dakar combines surfing with schooling for girls.
- Program targets girls who have left or never attended school.
- Senegal's surfing future is rising from its coastal communities.
An innovative Surf Academy in Dakar, Senegal, is transforming the lives of young girls through a unique blend of surfing and education. The program, initiated by Black Girls Surf, targets girls aged seven to 17, many of whom come from the Xataxely fishing village within the Ngor neighbourhood.
This academy requires participants to enroll in school, offering them a dual opportunity: to pursue surfing and to continue their education. For girls who have left the formal school system, night classes are provided at a literacy center. The academy also includes fitness and meditation sessions to foster holistic development.
Despite Senegal's low primary school completion rates, this initiative aims to foster female surfers and provide them with essential academic skills. Senegal is preparing to host the Youth Summer Olympic Games later this year, highlighting the growing importance of sports in the nation.
