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London-based Sandblast charity seeks to raise awareness of the Saharawi refugee plight in SW Algeria and build support for their self-determination cause. Through education, arts and skills development projects, Sandblast equips the refugees, especially youth and women, to become self-reliant and able to reach audiences more widely to tell their story, promote their culture and advocate for their rights.
Our ongoing core project is Desert Voicebox, providing English and music education to over 60 Saharawi refugee children in an after school programme. It spans 4 years of primary school and trains local women to teach and run the programme.
An invisible story
“ What is it to be a refugee? Who are we? We know we are Saharawis, but only we know. The world does not know we exist. Being a refugee is like being outside this world" (Fatimetu Shagaf, born in the refugee camps, teaches Spanish to women )
The Saharawis are indigenous to Western Sahara, an ex-Spanish colony in NW Africa, which is officially considered Africa's last colony. In 1975, instead of fulfilling their independence aspirations as Spain withdrew, their homeland was forcefully annexed by neighbouring Morocco, which claimed the territory as its own. (This claim was rejected by International Court of Justice ruling of Oct 16 1975). The Moroccan invasion and occupation not only led to armed conflict between the Polisario front-the Saharawi national liberation movement and the Moroccan army but also resulted in the mass displacement of the Saharawi civilian population, who became refugees in the desert region around Tindouf, in SW Algeria.
Today, a third generation of Saharawi refugee children are growing up with few prospects of a better life. According to the latest UNHCR 2018 report, over 170,000 Saharawis live in 5 large refugee camps, 80% being women and children. Aid dependent for their survival needs, they endure harsh living and weather conditions and a lack of opportunities to develop and be heard.
“ What is it to be a refugee? Who are we? We know we are Saharawis, but only we know. The world does not know we exist. Being a refugee is like being outside this world" (Fatimetu Shagaf, born in the refugee camps, teaches Spanish to women )
The Saharawis are indigenous to Western Sahara, an ex-Spanish colony in NW Africa, which is officially considered Africa's last colony. In 1975, instead of fulfilling their independence aspirations as Spain withdrew, their homeland was forcefully annexed by neighbouring Morocco, which claimed the territory as its own. (This claim was rejected by International Court of Justice ruling of Oct 16 1975). The Moroccan invasion and occupation not only led to armed conflict between the Polisario front-the Saharawi national liberation movement and the Moroccan army but also resulted in the mass displacement of the Saharawi civilian population, who became refugees in the desert region around Tindouf, in SW Algeria.
Today, a third generation of Saharawi refugee children are growing up with few prospects of a better life. According to the latest UNHCR 2018 report, over 170,000 Saharawis live in 5 large refugee camps, 80% being women and children. Aid dependent for their survival needs, they endure harsh living and weather conditions and a lack of opportunities to develop and be heard.
LATEST NEWS:
• PRIVATE SCREENING :"You Can't Get There From Here"
A film by Daniel Petkoff and Peter Shields.
The feature length documentary is about the journey of the filmmakers in two rusty old vans, crossing the Sahara desert on a mission to deliver a shipment of prosthetic limbs for Legs4Africa to the amputee unit at the Banjul hospital in Gambia. Their journey, which starts out in Plymouth, shadows the Paris Dakar Rally route through Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania Senegal and Gambia. On the way they meet with Saharawi activists and human right defenders to expose their oppression by the Moroccan authorities occupying the territory. Click here to view trailer.
A Q&A will follow the screening with the filmmakers and the charities promoted in the film including Sandblast.
When: 2pm-5pm, January 15, 2022
Where: The Little Theatre Cinema, St Michael's Place, Bath, BA1 1SG
Watch this space for a future screening in London!
• ACTION NEEDED!
Click here to read the press release by Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, about Saharawi Woman Human Rights Defender Sultana Khaya living under house arrest for over 400 days, in occupied Western Sahara, without any specific charges. Lawlor describes a very disturbing and oppressive situation being experienced by Sultana Khaya. However, she does not call for any specific action which is equally disturbing. Please send her a message via the link provided above requesting action be taken with the Moroccan authorities to address the dire situation.
• PRIVATE SCREENING :"You Can't Get There From Here"
A film by Daniel Petkoff and Peter Shields.
The feature length documentary is about the journey of the filmmakers in two rusty old vans, crossing the Sahara desert on a mission to deliver a shipment of prosthetic limbs for Legs4Africa to the amputee unit at the Banjul hospital in Gambia. Their journey, which starts out in Plymouth, shadows the Paris Dakar Rally route through Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania Senegal and Gambia. On the way they meet with Saharawi activists and human right defenders to expose their oppression by the Moroccan authorities occupying the territory. Click here to view trailer.
A Q&A will follow the screening with the filmmakers and the charities promoted in the film including Sandblast.
When: 2pm-5pm, January 15, 2022
Where: The Little Theatre Cinema, St Michael's Place, Bath, BA1 1SG
Watch this space for a future screening in London!
• ACTION NEEDED!
Click here to read the press release by Mary Lawlor, the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights, about Saharawi Woman Human Rights Defender Sultana Khaya living under house arrest for over 400 days, in occupied Western Sahara, without any specific charges. Lawlor describes a very disturbing and oppressive situation being experienced by Sultana Khaya. However, she does not call for any specific action which is equally disturbing. Please send her a message via the link provided above requesting action be taken with the Moroccan authorities to address the dire situation.
