During February, five Sacyr Foundation spent 12 days in Bir Mogrein, located in the Tiris Zemmour region of northern Mauritania.
The team consisted of:
- Natalia Peñuela, Quality, Environment, and Energy Technician at Sacyr Agua
- Iván Roselló, Manager of the IDAM Formentera Plant at Sacyr Agua
- Lucía Cecilia, Communications Technician at Sacyr Holding
- Rodrigo Morilla, Technical Manager of the Infanta Cristina University Hospital (Parla, Madrid), managed by Sacyr Concessions
- José Matías Velasco, former Operations Director of the Honaine Desalination Plant in Algeria (Sacyr Agua) and current leader of UPlanet
They were part of a delegation of 34 people, primarily composed of healthcare professionals, including surgeons, general practitioners, radiologists, pharmacists, and nurses from across Spain.
The Sacyr Foundation signed a collaboration agreement with UPlanet, enabling Sacyr employees to participate in development cooperation projects in the countries where this NGO operates—primarily Mauritania and Uganda.
For the past four years, HumanCoop has been organizing annual medical and surgical missions to Mauritania, focusing on the cities of Zouerat and Bir Mogrein.
However, the NGO identified an urgent need for professionals to improve local infrastructure, particularly in Bir Mogrein. This led to a partnership with UPlanet, whose volunteers specialize in infrastructure improvement projects, especially in Mauritania and Uganda.
Through this collaboration, our volunteers joined the February mission—the first of four planned for the year—to work on four key projects in Bir Mogrein: a desalination plant, a vegetable garden, a health center, and a school. They also received logistical support from a local NGO, the Mohamed Salem Foundation.
Actions taken
Previous volunteer teams had expanded the storage capacity and distribution points of the village's desalination plant. However, the water quality remained insufficient, forcing residents to drink salty water drawn from underground wells in the desert.
Our engineers brought spare parts to assist in repairs and successfully ensured the desalinated water supply. They also conducted electrical maintenance at the desalination plant and the health center.
Additionally, they worked on identifying and addressing deficiencies at the health center, compiling a detailed report to guide future volunteers and local personnel in carrying out repairs.
At the village's primary school, our volunteers assessed and documented deficiencies in the latrine system. The facilities were not only broken and clogged, but also lacked a water supply due to damaged pipes. As a result, children were forced to relieve themselves around the school premises.
Furthermore, the five volunteers created a vegetable garden in the middle of the desert, equipped with an automatic irrigation system. They planted various crops, which will now be watered with the newly desalinated water.
Beyond these infrastructure projects, the team conducted a social study of the local population to better understand their social and work habits.
Our volunteers, along with UPlanet personnel, also met with local associations, including the Association of Women Farmers, the Association of Women Traders, the Association for the Rights of People with Disabilities and the Association of Women for the Eradication of Gender Violence.