Thursday 18 March 2010
Impossible to Describe
The last couple of weeks have passed so quickly. It is surreal that we have been here for almost three months now. We are currently waiting for a reply from the Algerian authorities whether they will accept to extend our visas for additional months. We are really hoping for an extension as we feel that our presence here has a big effect on both the people we meet and on us. This week we organized workshops at the centre where we teach English daily. The workshops were related to the campaign against the illegal fishery agreement between the European Union and Morocco. To have the opportunity to make slogans and banners and to be able to voice their opinion on a video means a lot to our students. They all can not believe that the exploitation of their natural resources can go on without any major interference! To know that their pictures may have an effect on the future decisions regarding their country gives them hope, but the situation as a whole is nothing but frustrating.
We learn so much about the Saharawi people through our daily activities with them. Still after more than three decades in the refugee camps, the strength and the stamina of the Saharawi people is unbelievable and impossible to describe.
We learn so much about the Saharawi people through our daily activities with them. Still after more than three decades in the refugee camps, the strength and the stamina of the Saharawi people is unbelievable and impossible to describe.
Thursday 11 March 2010
Marathon back to War?
The Sahara marathon is one of the biggest events organized in the refugee camps. Athletes from various parts of the world come to the refugee camps to participate in this demanding race.
One of the aims of the marathon is to increase the publicity around the Saharawi issue. The foreign participants of the marathon live with families in the refugee camps throughout their stay. This way they also lean about the Saharawi culture and way of living. They observe and experience the life of the people in the refugee camps with its amazing hospitality, love and care as well as the difficulties that the refugees face everyday.
The start of the marathon was celebrated with music, children in the traditional Saharawi costumes, Saharawi men riding camels, the presence of President Mohamed Abdel Aziz and many people both foreign and Saharawi. After the start of the marathon, Maria and I met the president thanks to Mohamed. Among the crowd that would like to have a word with the Saharawi president was also an elderly woman. She expressed her opinion about the current situation and she strongly believed that the Saharawi people should return to war was waiting for more than 30 years has not lead to any progress. We later heard that most Saharawis agree with her and that although they do not like war, they believe it is better than waiting in the Algerian desert for an unknown amount of time. Saharawi people are peaceful people who have the right to return to their country. Of course everyone would prefer a diplomatic and non-violent solution, but the Saharawi have tried everything and feel forgotten. To return to war can seem like a way to remind the world of their situation and it might lead to an actual solution between the Morocco and Western Sahara. The conflict in itself is nothing but unjust and it is unbelievable that it has been going on for more than three decades.
One of the aims of the marathon is to increase the publicity around the Saharawi issue. The foreign participants of the marathon live with families in the refugee camps throughout their stay. This way they also lean about the Saharawi culture and way of living. They observe and experience the life of the people in the refugee camps with its amazing hospitality, love and care as well as the difficulties that the refugees face everyday.
The start of the marathon was celebrated with music, children in the traditional Saharawi costumes, Saharawi men riding camels, the presence of President Mohamed Abdel Aziz and many people both foreign and Saharawi. After the start of the marathon, Maria and I met the president thanks to Mohamed. Among the crowd that would like to have a word with the Saharawi president was also an elderly woman. She expressed her opinion about the current situation and she strongly believed that the Saharawi people should return to war was waiting for more than 30 years has not lead to any progress. We later heard that most Saharawis agree with her and that although they do not like war, they believe it is better than waiting in the Algerian desert for an unknown amount of time. Saharawi people are peaceful people who have the right to return to their country. Of course everyone would prefer a diplomatic and non-violent solution, but the Saharawi have tried everything and feel forgotten. To return to war can seem like a way to remind the world of their situation and it might lead to an actual solution between the Morocco and Western Sahara. The conflict in itself is nothing but unjust and it is unbelievable that it has been going on for more than three decades.
Solidarity
The Western Sahara refugee camps truly lives up to its reputation of being one of the best organized refugee camps in the world. Although the people living here have close to nothing in terms of material things, the care and the solidarity that they show amongst each other and towards all that support them is amazing. The Saharawi people are still waiting for a peaceful solution and to finally be able to return to their homeland. In spite of the fact that they are living in a refugee camp, the Saharawis know that life must continue. All children go to school and the good relationship between Algerians and Saharawis allow young Saharawis to attend Algerian high schools and universities. Although there is close to no paid work in the refugee camps, most Saharawis return to the camps after having received their education. Some work as teachers in one of the primary or secondary schools. Others work in the administrations or hospitals of the camps. Many young, well educated people work as volunteers in various institutions in the camps. One such institution is “Casa de Mujeres”, which is a school where women can learn languages and how to use a computer in order to work in the administration of the camps later. They also learn about and discuss health issues especially related to the women and the babies. The solidarity that the Saharawi people show is immense and this along with the strong bonds between family members and the wish to help each other drives many Saharawis back to the refugee camps and their people.
The strong community spirit creates the frame around the well organized refugee camps.
The supplies of food and necessities such as gas and soap arrive once every month and is carefully divided between the refugees. The women of the camps organize this distribution and together they ensure that everyone gets their share. The women are responsible for many things in the refugee camps and in practice they run the camps. However, the decision-making lies with the men who often hold the highest positions.
Generally, in a traditional Saharawi family, the man is the source of some income and thus often also the one with the power in terms of making the major decisions. The woman on the other hand is primarily responsible for the household, the food and the children. This is a full time job and especially the afternoons and evenings are busy as the husband and the children will be at home. Due to this, the initiatives that offer language courses etc to women are held in the mornings until midday. At the same time most of the institutions function as kindergardens, so that a small child should not be an obstacle to aquire a new skill.
The camps offer many possibilities taking into consideration that they are refugee camps. The open culture welcomes everyone to take part in various activities. This includes people with special needs. Every camp has a school for disabled youngsters and special programs to take care of disabled elderly. The students at the schools learn to draw, write and read just like in any other school. In addition they learn how to make arts and craft as well as artifacts and material that is useful for the life in the refugee camps. These range from scarfs and clothes to doors and tables. The schools for the disabled also focus on integrating its students into the society. There are exchanges between the students at the school for disabled and the other schools. Both parts have much to learn from each other. Some of the students at the school for disabled attend one of the other schools regularly in the afternoons. The schools for disabled also offer sport activities and organize competitions between the schools in the different camps. Recently five young Saharawis were chosen to compete in the paraolympics in 2011. This is a big inspiration to many of them and also another chance to try to tell the world about the situation of the Saharawi people. Hopefully the world leaders will help us to bring an end to this conflict and let the Saharawi people return to their rightful land.
The strong community spirit creates the frame around the well organized refugee camps.
The supplies of food and necessities such as gas and soap arrive once every month and is carefully divided between the refugees. The women of the camps organize this distribution and together they ensure that everyone gets their share. The women are responsible for many things in the refugee camps and in practice they run the camps. However, the decision-making lies with the men who often hold the highest positions.
Generally, in a traditional Saharawi family, the man is the source of some income and thus often also the one with the power in terms of making the major decisions. The woman on the other hand is primarily responsible for the household, the food and the children. This is a full time job and especially the afternoons and evenings are busy as the husband and the children will be at home. Due to this, the initiatives that offer language courses etc to women are held in the mornings until midday. At the same time most of the institutions function as kindergardens, so that a small child should not be an obstacle to aquire a new skill.
The camps offer many possibilities taking into consideration that they are refugee camps. The open culture welcomes everyone to take part in various activities. This includes people with special needs. Every camp has a school for disabled youngsters and special programs to take care of disabled elderly. The students at the schools learn to draw, write and read just like in any other school. In addition they learn how to make arts and craft as well as artifacts and material that is useful for the life in the refugee camps. These range from scarfs and clothes to doors and tables. The schools for the disabled also focus on integrating its students into the society. There are exchanges between the students at the school for disabled and the other schools. Both parts have much to learn from each other. Some of the students at the school for disabled attend one of the other schools regularly in the afternoons. The schools for disabled also offer sport activities and organize competitions between the schools in the different camps. Recently five young Saharawis were chosen to compete in the paraolympics in 2011. This is a big inspiration to many of them and also another chance to try to tell the world about the situation of the Saharawi people. Hopefully the world leaders will help us to bring an end to this conflict and let the Saharawi people return to their rightful land.
The Saharawi Music and Dance are Twins
Article by Iwaly Dadi February 2010
Around the world there are many kinds of music and dance. In Western Sahara there is a special music and dance style that reflects the Saharawi culture and expresses their happiness, sadness, hopes and aspirations.
The Saharawi music is similar to the Mauritanian because most Mauritanians speak the same language that we speak. Our language is called Hasania. However, we have our own, more modern music. Many Saharawi songs talk about our problems, as we are refugees waiting to return to our homeland. The songs talk about women and children whose husbands and fathers went to the war and never came back. They talk about death, about life in the refugee camps, about religion and about asking God to help us. Some of the songs are about the uprising and the civil protests against the actions carried out by the Moroccan authorities in the occupied Western Sahara.
The songs talk about the hope to return to our homeland. When I listen to our music it makes me think about my family, my little brothers and my parent's advices. I wonder how their lives are and what they are doing. I remember the good times when I was playing football with my friends in the sand with bare feet.
When talking about Saharawi music, dancing has to be mentioned. A Saharawi singer once said that the music and the dance are twins. Trilling is also a part of the Saharawi music culture. The women trill to express happiness. They trill when their children pass the exams, when there is a wedding, when a family member or friend comes back after having spent time in another country and so on.
We have many singers in the refugee camps both men and women, old and young people. They sing for the national ceremonies and at the weddings. At the wedding parties the singer and his band plays in a big tent. This is the place where the man and the woman get married. The audience forms a circle around the middle of the tent. The singer asks two or more persons to dance. When they finish, others take over. Both men and women dance at weddings. The weddings are also good opportunities for people to show themselves as youth may find their future partners at ceremonies such as these. To attend a Saharawi wedding is an unforgetable experience and after having experienced one, you will look forward to the next. You can see the beauty of the women and the men when they dress up for the weddings and move to the music that brings them so much joy.
I really enjoy Saharawi music. It makes me feel alive. It both reminds me of my chldhood and makes me think about my future and about what I hope to be. However, it also makes me think about the Saharawi's situation and about the human rights violations that are carried out by Moroccan authorities against Saharawis everyday.
One Saharawi singer says in his song: “Salam, Salam where is Salam... hoping to live in peace that will hopefully spread not only to my country, but to all.”
Around the world there are many kinds of music and dance. In Western Sahara there is a special music and dance style that reflects the Saharawi culture and expresses their happiness, sadness, hopes and aspirations.
The Saharawi music is similar to the Mauritanian because most Mauritanians speak the same language that we speak. Our language is called Hasania. However, we have our own, more modern music. Many Saharawi songs talk about our problems, as we are refugees waiting to return to our homeland. The songs talk about women and children whose husbands and fathers went to the war and never came back. They talk about death, about life in the refugee camps, about religion and about asking God to help us. Some of the songs are about the uprising and the civil protests against the actions carried out by the Moroccan authorities in the occupied Western Sahara.
The songs talk about the hope to return to our homeland. When I listen to our music it makes me think about my family, my little brothers and my parent's advices. I wonder how their lives are and what they are doing. I remember the good times when I was playing football with my friends in the sand with bare feet.
When talking about Saharawi music, dancing has to be mentioned. A Saharawi singer once said that the music and the dance are twins. Trilling is also a part of the Saharawi music culture. The women trill to express happiness. They trill when their children pass the exams, when there is a wedding, when a family member or friend comes back after having spent time in another country and so on.
We have many singers in the refugee camps both men and women, old and young people. They sing for the national ceremonies and at the weddings. At the wedding parties the singer and his band plays in a big tent. This is the place where the man and the woman get married. The audience forms a circle around the middle of the tent. The singer asks two or more persons to dance. When they finish, others take over. Both men and women dance at weddings. The weddings are also good opportunities for people to show themselves as youth may find their future partners at ceremonies such as these. To attend a Saharawi wedding is an unforgetable experience and after having experienced one, you will look forward to the next. You can see the beauty of the women and the men when they dress up for the weddings and move to the music that brings them so much joy.
I really enjoy Saharawi music. It makes me feel alive. It both reminds me of my chldhood and makes me think about my future and about what I hope to be. However, it also makes me think about the Saharawi's situation and about the human rights violations that are carried out by Moroccan authorities against Saharawis everyday.
One Saharawi singer says in his song: “Salam, Salam where is Salam... hoping to live in peace that will hopefully spread not only to my country, but to all.”
Inside the Tent
Article written by Iwaly Dadi January 2010
The Saharawis in the refugee camps are living in cloth tents. All the family members including the father, the mother and the children are living in one tent where they sleep and eat. The tent is called the Jaima and the women have the main responsibility for it. They look after it and make sure it is tidy and in a good condition. The Saharawi people struggle because of the extreme weather conditions which make life in the refugee camps very difficult.
Life under the Jaima changes depending on the weather conditions. When it rains the water gets into the tent and soaks everything. When it is cold the people have nothing to heat the tent with. On the other hand, when it is hot the extreme heat makes life really hard. The Saharawis live under the mercy of nature. When the conditions are normal life is OK, but when it changes we start to worry.
The Jaima can also be dangerous. Under windy conditions something sharp may fall on the tent and hurt the people inside it. My mother gets worried when she sees the weather change. She asks God to stop the wind as it will be hard for her to repair the tent again. It took her a long time to sow it.
We have mixed feelings under the tent. We think about both the difficult and the good things. This is how the Saharawis can fight the circumstances they are in.
The hospitality of the Saharawi people is unique. Our jaimas are open all the time and we greet everyone that comes to us. When someone comes and says Salam Alaikum, the people will greet him and make him feel at home. The Saharawis show a special hospitality towards guests. The tea is a symbol of the Saharawi's generousity. They won't let you go before you have had tea with them. The tea session is very traditional and there are many details about it.
The Saharawis drink three cups of tea, each one with its own story. They say that the first one is bitter like life, the second one is sweet like love and the third one is smooth like death.
If you have a chance to visit the Saharawi families in their tents, the delicious tea, the mint smell and the warmth of the family will give you an unforgettable experience. Despite the difficulties that the Saharawis face, there are always moments of joy and happiness.
The tent is the temporary house for Saharawi refugees until they return back to their homeland. They live far away in exile for a human goal. The goal is the right for all nations all over the world to live free and independent and to enjoy their natural resources. The Saharawis look forward to a bright future with freedom and democracy. By letting the Saharawis decide on their own future, the current situation will end. It will bring an end to the suffering as well as the life in the tents, which now have lasted for more than three decades.
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