It is in the heart of Sandy Ground, in Lady Fish Street, parallel to the sea, that three young scouts in scarves and green shirts are busy during this morning in late July. Mia Chender, Benoît Miquey and Justin Malcey have known each other since childhood. "We have been scouts and guides in France since the age of 13 or 14," says Mia, 19, a business school student in Lyon.
They are among the 90 scouts and guides from France who have come to lend a hand in Saint-Martin since July 14. Since the start of their second week on the island, the three comrades have devoted themselves to their project: the creation of a library. “Basically, we had to make a library in a church in Cameroon. Explains the girl. They therefore decide to transpose their project to Saint-Martin. "We go where people need us, and here it was perhaps more the case than in Cameroon. Says Justin, 19, a biology student in Clermont-Ferrand.
In the second year of the rank of companions, the scouts and guides of France must self-finance their solidarity project. Since September, the three comrades have multiplied the odd jobs to arrive at a minimum budget each of 1300 euros (plane ticket included): babysitting, sale of twigs, preparation of meals for scout courses, organization of a magic show ... "We were also subsidized by a company," says Justin.
To set up their library, the Sandy Ground on the Move integration association provides them with space. Before Irma, it served as a reading center, computer room and homework help area.
It had not been opened since the hurricane that ripped the roof off. Scouts spent several days cleaning up the traces of infiltration and sorting out the least damaged books. To build up the stock for the future library, they asked their group of scouts near Lyon to give them books, as well as other voluntary scouts in Saint-Martin. "We took the minimum of personal belongings so that we could carry the 40 kilos of books collected, in our luggage." says Benoît, 20, a computer science student in Lyon.
Next week, volunteers from the Sandy Ground on the Move association are to repair the roof of the premises. Then the small team will begin the second phase: scraping and painting the walls. Mia explains that their project has two components: the construction site and the animation. “We would also like to make a fresco with the children of the association, then games and reading workshops. The idea is to educate young people to use a place like this. It is important that they reclaim it. We haven't discussed it yet, but a priori, in the long term, the association will manage the premises ”.
(More details on www.soualigapost.com)
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