WesternSahara: Help for refugee children in the desert
Born in refugee camps in the Algerian desert, forgotten by the world public - thousands of Sahrau children and adolescents only know their homeland from stories.
The Western Sahara, the land of Sahrauis, has been divided since the end of Spanish colonization in 1975 and the subsequent war: the Sahrau organization manages Frente Polisario. The other part is occupied by Morocco. Human rights organizations report by demonstrators who are beaten up by Sahrau's political prisoners who are disappearing and tortured in prisons.
150,000 Sahrauis live in refugee camps in Algeria today, trapped in a political stalemate: there is neither war nor peace. And hardly any hope for an early solution. In the camps it gets up to 50 degrees hot, in winter the temperatures fall below zero. The refugees are completely dependent on outside help. Even the water is delivered. There are primary schools, but only one secondary school. Many parents therefore send their children abroad for training. After that, you have the choice: between returning to the desolation of the camps or a life far from the family.
Education and leisure activities
The terre of the Hommes partner organization Ujsario (Union of the Jeunes des Saquia el Hamra et Rio de Oro) organizes educational and leisure activities in the refugee camps. The Terre of the Hommes partner organization gives children and adolescents in Algeria desert with a lot of commitment a protected space in which they can develop their talents.
Ujsario's youth centers are an important place of reference for children and young people in the refugee camps. They mean a piece of freedom, especially for girls and young women. Here you can meet and exchange ideas with friends outside of the family tents. The targeted promotion of young women and girls runs through all offers. With success: Many girls are involved in Ujsario and take on more and more leadership roles.
1,400 children and 2,000 young people regularly come to the nine youth centers to play, tinker, learn or do sports. There are also large football and volleyball tournaments with a total of 800 participants twice a year.
Ujsario offers courses in computer science, Arabic, sewing or cooking. And because the team always adapts the offer to the wishes and needs of the young participants, there are now also first aid training and courses on Hydroponics, a combined system of fish farming and vegetable production.
Keep your own culture
In nowhere of the desert, the youth threatens to lose their own culture. That is why voluntary cultural festivals, study days on Sahraui culture and competitions organize in traditional games. Around 600 young people then compete in the Sigh, Dhama or Akrur games. And for the young Sahrauis who go to school abroad, Ujsario organizes a special holiday program during the summer holidays to convey cultural values and to counteract adolescents. In addition, Ujsario stands for a culture of cooperation: over 700 young people regularly take part in solidarity. They collect garbage on the streets or take care of families in need.
In a region that has to deal with terrorism, the Sahrauis rely on the realization of international rights through peaceful means. So far in vain. Nevertheless, they have managed to protect their youth despite the high frustration and bitterness from extremism. Ujsario contributes a large part. It is all the more important to support their commitment to children and young people in the refugee camps in the future.
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