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FMR 25 59
Holidays in peace: Sahrawi children
visit Spain by Gina Crivello, Elena Fiddian and Dawn Chatty
Thousands of young Sahrawis spend summer holidays with serious medical conditions
requiring longer-term or invasive
with Spanish families. The Vacaciones en Paz host- treatment may stay on in Spain af-
ing programme has grown into a transnational network ter the summer programme ends.
which allows Sahrawi youth to partially offset the hard- Many parents stress the emotional
ships of their daily lives as refugees. impact of hosting:
A
s Spanish colonial rule neighbours; even for Easter ■ “I love my daughter with all of
ended in 1975, Morocco and Christmas we do the same. my heart.”
took control of Western I feel very responsible. It’s al- ■ “It’s been a very positive and
Sahara, triggering a conflict which most as if my greatest respon- enriching experience.”
resulted in mass displacement sibility is economic. ■ “I have been able to help some-
of Sahrawis to camps around the one in need and it motivates me
southern Algerian city of Tin- Many hosts stress the wider com- to be a better person.”
douf. Thirty years on, the conflict munity impact of their support, ■ “Hosting a child is not charity.
remains unresolved.1 An estimated believing that the money, food It’s a privilege and an act of
150,000-200,000 Sahrawis are and goods they send have poten- justice.”
almost entirely dependent on hu- tial to improve the wellbeing of ■ “A boy, smiling at you when he
manitarian aid. both individual children and their has learned something, when he
families. However, some hosts who can explain something to you in
Vacaciones en Paz (‘Holidays in have visited the Sahrawi camps your mother tongue, it’s lovely,
Peace’) is organised by the Unión are concerned that they may have it’s something that makes it
de Juventud de Saguia el Hamra y contributed to socio-economic dif- worth the effort.”
Río de Oro (UJSARIO)2 – the youth ferences there. A host noted:
organisation of the Polisario Front A small number of hosts are inter-
– in partnership with some 300 If we consider that 10,000 ested in fostering children in order
Spanish solidarity associations children come to Spain to offer them education in Spain,
(Amigos del Pueblo Saharaui).3 every year and if every child as long as families in the camps
Every summer since 1988 between returns with €100 or even support the idea.
7,000 and 10,000 Sahrawi children €50, you do the calcula-
have come to live with Spanish tions… this has generated an However, there are also negative
families. economy… Eight years ago experiences. One parent com-
these little stores you now plained of lack of respect towards
Many return year after year to see didn’t exist. Now, instead the Catholic religion. Two Sahrawi
the same families. While in Spain of going to buy from the girls reported being smacked by
they receive medical care, clothes, Algerians who go to Tindouf, members of previous host fami-
toys, gifts for their families in the these families go to Tindouf lies. Many children reported they
camps, food items, school supplies to buy the products so they were generally satisifed with host
and money. Most return home can set up their own stores families but did not develop emo-
with cash and some families ad- … it’s clear that in the camps tional attachments with them.
ditionally send money throughout there are social classes now.
the year. Host parents report that The family that has five Several trips are organised each
children often come with specific kids who come to Spain has year to enable Spanish families to
family requests and may return an economic status that is travel to the refugee camps and
home with pressure cookers, solar higher than a family who visit the children they have hosted.
panels and sewing machines – pro- has two kids at home who Some hosts find the visits to be
vided either by host families or don’t come. emotionally taxing.
local solidarity associations.
On arrival in Spain each child Their behaviour there is
For some host or Spanish fami- receives a medical examination. influenced by their customs
lies, financial support is the most Most show signs of iron-deficiency and traditions, so out of
important form of solidarity they and malnourishment and others respect they can’t or don’t
can offer. After hosting a child for are diagnosed with more serious express their feelings… Here
three consecutive years, a mother ailments such as kidney stones he’s very open and caring…
explained: or eye irritations. Families and he’s called us mummy and
support organisations often cover daddy without us having to
Every year we take a collec- medical and dental expenses or say anything…But when you
tion from friends, family and the cost of eyeglasses. Children get there, you’re desperate to
60 Holidays in peace: Sahrawi children visit Spain FMR 25
hug him and see him…forget explained that her family’s deci- family loyalty and commitment to
it. When we speak with him sion to offer hospitality was: the independence struggle. Despite
on the phone, he’s not at all the economic benefits of visiting
talkative. It’s not at all like ..more for personal and sen- Spain, all the Sahrawi children we
when he’s here. timental reasons ... we don’t interviewed said they were keen
know much about the politi- to return to the camps at the end
Some host parents have been cal situation. At the political of the summer. Asked about their
politically involved in the West- level, I feel like we can’t do long-term ambitions, most said
ern Sahara issue since the 1970s. much… In two months, I they intended to live near their
Believing it is important to raise can make a difference in a families and did not indicate they
the children’s political awareness, girl. I can feed her, make would seek to emigrate when they
they may talk with them about the sure she gets the medical grow up.
background to the conflict and attention she needs … but
use maps, photos and books to the political question, it just This article is based on inter-
improve their understanding. One doesn’t interest me much. views with a sample of Sahrawi
such host commented that: youth and their hosts in Madrid
The bonds created during the in August 2005. Gina Crivello
They consider that they live summer holidays are reinforced by is a research assistant at the
in Laayoune, but it’s not the repeat hosting, by telephone and Refugee Studies Centre and
Laayoune… you know… so written contacts and by the Span- Dawn Chatty its Deputy Director.
we speak with her, show her ish family’s return visits to the Elena Fiddian is a University of
maps, tell her where her camps. These exchanges provide Oxford doctoral student. Emails:
family is from originally, some children with a path for ginacrivello1@yahoo.co.uk; dawn.
that they have a sea, etc… future emigration to Spain, either chatty@qeh.ox.ac.uk; elena.
UNHCR- for study or employment. fiddian@qeh.ox.ac.uk.
sponsored home Others seek to discourage the chil-
visits in 2004 dren from wanting to live in Spain Vacaciones en Paz is a window of For further information about the
allow Sahrawi
and urge them to retain hope of opportunity for Sahrawi children. research, visit: www.forcedmigra-
refugees living
one day residing in the occupied Their medical and nutritional tion.org/guides/llreport2/
in camps near
Tindouf to visit
territories which they have never needs are attended to, cultural
1. See preceding article by José Copete.
family members seen. horizons are expanded and many
2. www.ujsario.net
whom many develop deep emotional bonds 3. www.nodo50.org/saharamad
have not seen for Some hosts have no political mo- with their host families. However,
30 years. tivations. A first-time host mother Sahrawis have a strong sense of
UNHCR/S Hopper
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