As an extension of their boxing lessons taken each week, the "most deserving" were chosen for a week of training at the "Academy boxer inside" during the February holidays, explains Francky Denis, trainer and companion of Sarah Ourahmoune .

At 9 a.m., two young girls play table football, in the refurbished former premises of the Peugeot-Citroën works council, between the Parinor shopping center and the Robert Ballanger park, then exchange a few ping-pong balls before until the day starts.

Initiation to first aid for some, journalism workshop for others and kart driving on a circuit located opposite for the last group.

"Save lives"

"Today with the help of a firefighter we learned how to save lives", proudly summarizes Issa Marmoiton, 10 years old and two years of boxing on the clock.

Since his arrival, he has also learned "how to behave well" and "to help each other", he who wants to become a "world champion" in boxing.

Modules on secularism, gender equality, civic engagement, school bullying... young people spend sporting and studious holidays in this club set up a year ago.

"We rely on the passion and their appetite for boxing to get them to open up to other activities and other learning," explains Sarah Ourahmoune, a specialist training educator.

She also regrets that sport "is almost absent from the programs of candidates" for the presidential election when it is "a unifying element" of society.

For her part, the practice of boxing helped her "to gain confidence" and led her to "other circles and other sectors", she confides, anxious to transmit something other than techniques and fighting spirit.

And the concept is that the young initiates can pass on what they have learned from other young people by intervening in schools for example.

- "Sarah, she's a big model!"-

The children and teenagers participating in the "academy" program come from Aulnay and the other club located in the 13th arrondissement of Paris and are overwhelmingly of modest origin.

The team exchanges regularly with the parents: "it allows us to see how it makes the youngster evolve at school or at home", says the former Olympic vice-champion in the under 51 kg category at the Rio Olympics.

Those who need it also benefit from socio-educational monitoring.

Next to the ring, photos of legends like Mohamed Ali hanging on the wall, tables, chairs and a blackboard are somewhat reminiscent of a classroom, only a little more colorful.

"The goal is to open their critical minds," explains Hasna Kidrene, web journalist in charge of leading the journalism workshop.

The idea of ​​this workshop had not really thrilled at first but "they got into the game", says Sarah Ourahmoune.

To work on their public speaking, teenagers tell their article orally.

Sarah Ourahmoune speaking to students as part of the launch of Olympic and Paralympic week in Saint-Denis, February 4, 2019 BERTRAND GUAY AFP / Archives

And when volunteers are needed to make video the next day, a forest of hands goes up...

All of this "will serve us for our life paths", assures Malak Hodroje, 17, full of liveliness and chat, for whom boxing is "more than a passion".

"Our goal is first of all to train the new generation of citizens and if among these young people we have little nuggets who dream of participating in the Olympics, we will accompany them to the highest level", summarizes Sarah Ourahmoune, who oversees on each of his apprentice citizen boxers.

The presence of the world champion in 2008 and Olympic vice-champion in 2016, then mother of a child and whom "no one expected" at the Olympics, in her own words, clearly inspires the trainees.

"Sarah, she's a big model! We're really lucky to have her!" Sums up Malak.

Seine-Saint-Denis, the poorest department in France, should benefit from the fallout from the Paris 2024 Olympics. The association also benefits from the endowment fund of the Paris 2024 Olympics organizing committee (Cojo), to its sporting action for educational and civic purposes.

© 2022 AFP