Coming from a fishing family in Dakar, Seynabou Tall had to leave school almost four years ago. But the 14-year-old was able to resume her education thanks to... surfing and a new program in Senegal that teaches this board sport, encouraging young girls to attend school.

Twenty-three girls aged 7 to 17 who live near the ocean - among whom 17 were not in school - participated in this first edition of the "Surf Academy" program, from October to January, which requires participants to take classes.

Hailing from the small community of Xataxely, a fishing village with narrow streets in the Ngor district of the Senegalese capital, most of these young girls had been taken out of school at a young age, or had never even been to school.

This village is one of the strongholds of the Lebou people, a fishing community with close ties to the ocean, living in the Dakar region. These girls all grew up facing the legendary "Ngor right," a wave prized by surfers from all over the world.

The Surf Academy program is an initiative of the American organization "Black Girls Surf" which aims to enable more black women to practice surfing, a sport largely dominated by men, often white.

- Self-esteem -

Co-led by Senegal's first professional surfer, Khadjou Sambe, this four-month program not only encourages girls to resume their studies, but also to develop their self-esteem.

As part of this program, Seynabou Tall received free surfing lessons and evening classes five days a week to catch up on her schoolwork.

Surf lessons ended at the end of January, but the school program will continue until July.

Like many Lebou people, Seynabou's father is a diver who fishes for fish that have become increasingly rare due to overfishing by foreign trawlers in Senegalese waters.

After she left school, Seynabou had only "stayed at home", her mother, Marième Wade, 43, told AFP.

She, who was only able to attend primary school, advised her daughter to "continue surfing," hoping that it might "open some doors" for her.

"We can't afford to pay for her studies...", confides Marième from the family courtyard where young children are playing.

According to the UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa, the primary school completion rate in Senegal was only 60% for girls and 55% for boys in 2022.

Most of the girls in the academy are beginners in surfing: "I had never surfed before this program," says Seynabou.

More than just academic instruction, the academy offers a "personal development program," Rhonda Harper, founder and director of "Black Girls Surf," told AFP.

Soukeye Ndoye, 16, who in turn coaches girls, is pleased "to occupy an important place that (she) never thought she could assume one day".

"At first, I knew nothing about surfing... I was always falling and getting injured often. But now, I go out alone and I have good support."

- "My passion"

She also overcame the reluctance of her parents, who hope that she will be able to develop professionally in this sport.

"Surfing has changed a lot of things in my life. It allows me to forget family problems... I forget everything as soon as I get in the water," says Soukeye.

"When I'm in the water, it's like I'm a dolphin. I forget all my problems and I focus on the sea..." adds Khady Mbemgue, 17, who is also a coach and has already participated in several competitions. She hopes to travel abroad and one day make a living from this sport.

"At first, my parents said that surfing is a sport for men... But they finally understood that it's my passion," she says.

Khadjou Sambe, 30, who grew up a few meters from the ocean, will soon begin training with the hope of participating in the Olympic Games to be held in Los Angeles in 2028.

As a child, her parents forbade her from surfing, a sport they considered reserved for men. To get back to the waves, Khadjou Sambe says she had to sneak out or leave the house in her everyday clothes so no one would guess she was going to the beach...

But the trend is changing, she notes.

Several girls who have taken lessons with Black Girls Surf in recent years are now joining national competitions.

Among the women of the Xataxely community, surfing may finally become popular.