La historia del Sáhara Occidental es una historia de resistencia, una de saqueo y una de colonialismo. Es una historia envuelta en ignorancia y misterio, ya que rara vez se discute en los medios internacionales.
Gueguerat is a small village located at the far southwest of Western Sahara, inching 11 km away from the border with Mauritania. Currently, it is under the control of Morocco, “which [they] regard as vital to trade with sub-Saharan Africa.” (Middle East Monitor).
¿Qué es lo que está sucediendo en Guerguerat?
La soberanía del Sáhara Occidental se disputa entre el gobierno marroquí y el Frente POLISARIO (Frente Popular para la Liberación de la Saguía El Hamra y Río de Oro) desde 1975. Fue en ese año que España decidió por fin retirar su poder colonial del territorio. A pesar del anhelo y lucha por la independencia del pueblo saharaui y la promesa de un referéndum para la autodeterminación por parte del gobierno español, el territorio del Sáhara Occidental fue cedido a Marruecos y Mauritania en los
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The NETHERLANDS
Maastricht Team | Yr. 2018-20
Meet the Team
Thank you for your work & support!
Inigo Brenninkmeijer
Finance and Logistics Member
I joined the Western Sahara project because I saw it as an opportunity to use my time more effectively, and actually invest my energy into a useful and sustainable cause. It is important for me to make a difference within one's reach, and together with the rest of the team, we believed in stretching those boundaries to reach further! What really drives me in this project is the direct relation that we have with the change that we enable. We raise funds and we make a difference with it: no intermediates, no third parties.
Jure Buzinel
Finance Member
I have heard about Western Sahara and their conflict before but I never really paid too much attention to it. Having attended a workshop about the conflict in UWCM introduced me to the conflict better and showed me how people are directly affected by this. Seeing their living conditions and their optimistic approach to a (hard) life I wanted to help in some way and therefore decided to join Western Sahara project.
Lia Da Giau
Logistics Member
I wanted to take part in this project after realising how concretely our community is affected by the issue, as we have had and currently have students from the refugee camp we are helping. Through a constant connection with that reality and its people, we can not just make a change, but also live it and understand how meaningful our action is.
Alphan Mete
Finance Member
I joined the project because I feel utterly sad about the conditions that Western Sahrawi refugees have in Algeria and as an individual, I believe that I can have a positive impact on Western Saharan refugees' lives by raising people’s awareness all around the world about the issue and by conducting fundraising activities in my own community to help people in need in Algeria.
Ian Madaric
Finance and Communications Member
I joined the project because I believe that Saharawi people have been ignored for decades, with almost none political, diplomatic, and foreign aid given to them. They have been forced to live in the refugee camps in the Sahara desert for generations, relying mostly on themselves only. Therefore, I decided to do my best to help them and ensure a better future for them.
Yuval Amichay
Finance and Communications Member
​I joined the Western Sahara Under the Sun project to expand my horizons and be more of an active global citizen. I had never heard of the displaced people of Western Sahara before joining the team, but have now made it my priority to improve their quality of life and raise awareness on the issue in my local community.
Sanaa Abo Asaad
Media Member
I heard about Western Sahara refugees for the first time in a presentation by the team during UWC-day. This issue attracted my attention so much especially how are the Sahrawi people living in Tindouf, Algeria in a bad situation and no one is helping them, also how my peers have this massive contribution for the people there. So I decided to use my skills in the media field and fundraising to help them and shed light on their problem for the world. Also, it is an honor for me to help Sahrawi refugees.
Julia Terpinska
Communications Member
Being in the Under The Sun team is very important for me as it gives me a sense of direct social impact on the residents of the Saharawi refugee camp. I believe that through creative fundraising and collaboration, we are able to provide improved facilities and therefore increase the quality of life in the camp, which makes me feel more happy and fulfilled.
Philippe Damoiseaux
Communications and Media Member
I joined the project because ever since I started my education at the United World College Maastricht, I wanted to make a change. Change does not always happen in big steps, as it can also be the small things. Since I raised 1800 euros to go on a service trip to Indonesia, I knew that this would be a good opportunity to progress charity skills. Above that, I believe that investing my time into this cause is much more effective than any other activities I could be a part of.
Rochelle Waldman
Media Member
I chose to join the Western Sahara project out of curiosity and intrigue. Without even knowing a lot about the project, I was already interested. This is because I am partially Hungarian and have witnessed the influx of refugees and political immigrants first hand in 2016. Whenever I went food shopping, I always bought extra to feed the people sleeping on the streets. This experience showed me how easy I have it and how it is the job of the people who have it easy, not to feel bad about the people who have it hard, but to assist in making their life easier. Because it is actions that make the difference not the thought.
Gloria Atondeh
Communications and Media Member
I have heard about Western Sahara and their conflict before but I never really paid too much attention to it. Having attended a workshop about the conflict in UWCM introduced me to the conflict better and showed me how people are directly affected by this. Seeing their living conditions and their optimistic approach to a (hard) life I wanted to help in some way and therefore decided to join Western Sahara project.