In summer 2011, two social workers from the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria visited Switzerland. They were able to take home some ideas from their exchange with social institutions and youth centres. One of these was the idea of a cocktail-mix competition, such as the one that has now taken place in the Smara refugee camp.
A report by Annette Mokler, Programme Coordinator Brazil and Western Sahara
The young people living in the Sahrawi refugee camps have few prospects despite relatively good education and are still waiting for the liberation of the occupied Western Sahara. They are waiting for a return to their country, which they have never seen before. Our project partner in the camps, UJSARIO Smara, offers the young people many courses: Language courses (Spanish, English, French), computer science, sewing, sports and much more. In summer 2011, two social workers from the refugee camps visited Switzerland. After a very stimulating exchange between the visitors with various social institutions and youth centres in Switzerland (report in the terre des hommes schweiz newspaper, page 4), the two social workers have since then been increasingly incorporating elements of open youth work into their work on the ground.
Open youth work: a cocktail-mix competition
In Switzerland, for example, they have been inspired to organise a cocktail-mix competition (non-alcoholic) with young women. This competition has now also taken place. Two groups of young women compete against each other. In the video (below) you can see how much fun the young women had during the competition. Of course each of them had to taste first. It was mixed for more than half an hour, tasted and mixed further. Then the two opposing buffets were set up and an independent jury had to decide. I was also invited to participate as a jury member. The decision was difficult, but a young person from the jury skilfully summarized the scores: While the cocktails of one group were more substantial, the other group had decorated more beautifully and brought great cakes as a supplement. Afterwards everyone was allowed to eat. A real celebration, which is a real treat for the dreary
could break through the daily camp routine.
terre des hommes schweiz supports young people in the camps
For 40 years, Morocco has occupied Western Sahara and oppressed the indigenous Sahrawi population demanding self-determination. Since then, some 200 000 Sahrawis have been living in 5 refugee camps in the Algerian desert, where they have also set up a government in exile. The refugees are dependent on aid supplies. terre des hommes schweiz supports the work with young people in the camps in its own youth centres. More about our project.
