A total of 119 Saharawi children have arrived in the archipelago to spend the summer months as part of the “Holidays in Peace” solidarity programme. This initiative, which has been running for over forty years, allows children from the Tindouf refugee camps to enjoy a temporary stay in Canary Island homes.
Gran Canaria hosts the majority of the participants, with 59 children spread across several municipalities. In Teror, representatives of the town council welcomed the families and children who will spend the next few weeks there.
The programme offers children the possibility to participate in recreational activities, go to the beach and undergo medical check-ups. The aim is to provide them with a summer away from the harsh climatic conditions of the Algerian desert and to encourage cultural contact.
The coordination of the project in the Canary Islands is the responsibility of the Saharawi Delegation and associations of friendship and solidarity with the Saharawi people. These entities support the host families and supervise the development of the activities.
The initiative is recognised for its social value and for strengthening the links between the Canary Islands population and the Sahrawi people. Every summer, dozens of children between the ages of nine and twelve find in this programme a space for coexistence and well-being.