Back into the desert
Donation protected
In February 2016, I stepped out of a landrover into the dark, moonlit desert and took my first look at Smara, the largest of the Saharawi refugee camps. I had heard plenty of stories and knew several people who had been there, but nothing could have prepared me for all I would learn and experience through my first 10 months of partnering with these people. Teaching English would be my official business there, but the time spent making dear friends, learning the language and hearing incredible stories of overcoming hardship is what really impacted my life and convinced me that the Saharawi people and their cause are worth my investment.
The Saharawi are from Western Sahara, a country that Morocco illegally invaded and has occupied since 1975. Roughly half of the population lives under occupation, while the rest fled during the war to five refugee camps in Algeria. Currently, the Saharawi I am involved with have to live off of foreign aid, with little opportunity to make a life for themselves or escape these harsh conditions. They are making things work where they are, but these motivated, passionate, talented people could contribute so much more to the world than they already do if they experienced justice in their situation! They are committed to peace, and keep fighting for their rights even though most of the world has forgotten they exist.
While my heart breaks for the struggles these people have faced (and continue to face), and I am discouraged by the UN's lack of actual response to this recognized issue, I want to do what I can to show the Saharawi I am on their side.
Teaching English is something we have chosen to do in the camps primarly as a response to an actual request. Saharawi officials reached out to our organization's founder shortly after 9/11 and told her that if we Americans really loved the Saharawi, we would come teach them English so that they could share their story with the world. We continue to teach English as we look for more opportunities to partner with and advocate for our friends.
I am currently home for the second summer since I began my work in Smara, and now I am preparing to spend at least two more school-years in the camps. Thinking about living on the other side of the world and volunteering for that much more time is intimidating, but God proved to me over the last year that He will provide as long as I continue to follow His lead. So while I continue to pray, advocate and study Hassaniya from home, I trust that God will pave the way for me to return in the fall and commit those two years to this work. I would love for you to consider partnering with me, whether that is praying for the Saharawi people, their freedom, and justice, or contributing financially to help me surivive another two years of volunteering.
The total costs listed on this page are for two years, including flights, mandatory visa exits, food, living expenses, hospitality/gifts, and Hassaniya language tutoring. I made the budget estimates based on what I spent this last year.
If you have any questions (or want instructions for how to make a tax-deductible contribution), please feel free to reach out to me here! You can also check out MANY posts from the last 10 months in the camps to get a better idea of what my time there was like at my blog:
www.heatherhereandthere.com
Thank you :)
The Saharawi are from Western Sahara, a country that Morocco illegally invaded and has occupied since 1975. Roughly half of the population lives under occupation, while the rest fled during the war to five refugee camps in Algeria. Currently, the Saharawi I am involved with have to live off of foreign aid, with little opportunity to make a life for themselves or escape these harsh conditions. They are making things work where they are, but these motivated, passionate, talented people could contribute so much more to the world than they already do if they experienced justice in their situation! They are committed to peace, and keep fighting for their rights even though most of the world has forgotten they exist.
While my heart breaks for the struggles these people have faced (and continue to face), and I am discouraged by the UN's lack of actual response to this recognized issue, I want to do what I can to show the Saharawi I am on their side.
Teaching English is something we have chosen to do in the camps primarly as a response to an actual request. Saharawi officials reached out to our organization's founder shortly after 9/11 and told her that if we Americans really loved the Saharawi, we would come teach them English so that they could share their story with the world. We continue to teach English as we look for more opportunities to partner with and advocate for our friends.
I am currently home for the second summer since I began my work in Smara, and now I am preparing to spend at least two more school-years in the camps. Thinking about living on the other side of the world and volunteering for that much more time is intimidating, but God proved to me over the last year that He will provide as long as I continue to follow His lead. So while I continue to pray, advocate and study Hassaniya from home, I trust that God will pave the way for me to return in the fall and commit those two years to this work. I would love for you to consider partnering with me, whether that is praying for the Saharawi people, their freedom, and justice, or contributing financially to help me surivive another two years of volunteering.
The total costs listed on this page are for two years, including flights, mandatory visa exits, food, living expenses, hospitality/gifts, and Hassaniya language tutoring. I made the budget estimates based on what I spent this last year.
If you have any questions (or want instructions for how to make a tax-deductible contribution), please feel free to reach out to me here! You can also check out MANY posts from the last 10 months in the camps to get a better idea of what my time there was like at my blog:
www.heatherhereandthere.com
Thank you :)
Organizer
Heather Nichole Jost
Organizer
Oak Creek, WI
