Mauritania Journal – Feed the Forgotten People

Through the generosity of our donors, we collected over £79,000 for the Feed the Forgotten People of Mauritania project.  Follow our journey and see how your kindness and compassion made an impact.

Our journey to Mauritania began with a late-night arrival into the capital, Nouakchott, at 3 AM on Wednesday, 26th February. After a few hours of much-needed rest, we were welcomed with a beautiful home-cooked breakfast by our kind volunteer host – a true reflection of Mauritanian hospitality.

Our first visit was to the head office of the orphan care programme. Unlike many other countries, Mauritania has no orphanages, instead, orphans are raised within families in their homes, receiving support through sponsorship. Unfortunately, due to limited funding, many children remain without sponsors, relying solely on occasional donations.

Today, 100 orphans, each without a sponsor, received £25 cash donations (equivalent to 1,000 in local currency), along with personalised gifts from the UK lovingly packed by a generous family. Seeing their smiles and gratitude was a powerful reminder of the importance of this work.

As night fell, we embarked on our journey deep into the Sahara Desert, where we will spend the night under the open sky, making our way towards the remote villages of the forgotten people of the Western Sahara.

These are some of the most isolated communities in the world, living with almost nothing, yet holding onto immense faith.

Alhamdulillah, none of this would be possible without your generosity and support. Jazākumullāhu khairan to every donor who has contributed to this cause, your kindness is directly impacting lives and bringing hope to those who need it most.

Today, our team spent 14 hours on the road, traveling south of Nouakchott towards one of the most deprived regions of Mauritania – the ‘Triangle of Poverty’, deep within the desert. The vast, arid landscape stretched endlessly before us, a stark reminder of the harsh conditions in which these forgotten communities live.

Before venturing further, we made a crucial stop in the last major town, securing food hampers and fresh dates from a local wholesaler. These essential supplies will provide much needed relief to the families in the remote villages, some 250km+ away from any major town or infrastructure.

As night fell, the journey became increasingly challenging. The darkness engulfed the desert sky, making further travel unsafe. With no other option, we set up camp 30km away from the first village, preparing to continue at first light, In Shaa ALLAH.

Tomorrow, we reach those who have been waiting ‘Keep us in your precious prayers’.

As the sun rose over the vast plains of the Western Sahara, we traveled the final 40km to reach the ‘Triangle of Poverty’, Alhamdulillah.

Upon arrival, we visited five villages, each welcoming us with warmth and dignity. The village chiefs shared the harsh realities their communities face, with an average of 50–80 families per village, struggling daily for survival. Through your generous donations, we distributed food hampers, fresh dates, and cash support to the orphans – gifts that brought tears of gratitude to many eyes.

The same heartbreaking story echoed in every village: This was the first time in living memory that they had received dates for Ramadhaan. One chief expressed, “This feels more like a dream than reality.” Another shared, “This is the first time in over seven years that any support has reached us.”

Their appreciation and gratitude were beyond words. Many told us they had been praying for relief in the blessed month of Ramadhaan and ALLAH sent them the people of the UK as a means of comfort.

Despite their faith and resilience, their harsh reality remains unchanged. Access to clean water is a daily battle: Those with a water source walk 3–10km to fetch it. The water is often contaminated or salty, leading to kidney problems. In one village, families take turns receiving 100L of water every 10 days – just 10L per day per family.

In two villages, desperate attempts were made to dig 6m-deep wells by hand. Lacking proper equipment, the structures collapsed, tragically burying six people alive over the past eight years. Since then, they have given up trying.

Sanitation Crisis: In one village, 58 families (over 300 people) share a single toilet. Most villages have only two toilets, while one was fortunate to have four.

When asked what help they needed most, the response was unanimous in all five villages:
“Give us Masajid so we can worship our Lord and teach our children the Qur’an.”
SubhānAllāh. They lack water, they lack food, yet they give to their neighbors. They live without life’s essentials, yet their greatest concern is worshiping ALLAH SWT. In Him, they have faith. In Him, they trust. On Him, they rely. From Him, they ask.

A Promise Made – A Call to Action
Before leaving, we promised these people that we would strive to fulfill their request. If you would like to support the construction of Masajid, water wells, or sanitation projects, please reach out.

The videos and images we share can never do justice to the harsh reality of their daily lives. May ALLAH SWT ease their struggles, protect them, grant them patience, and keep them steadfast.

Jazākumullāhu Khairan to every donor – you are part of something truly special.

Due to sensitivity, privacy and dignity, we opted to respect the wishes of the locals and not take videos. We will capture this in the final day video In Shaa ALLAH.

Today marked the first day of the blessed month of Ramadhaan. We began an 11-hour journey back to Nouakchott, traveling from the Triangle of Poverty. Along the way, we made an important stop in the Aleg region, approximately 5 hours from the Triangle, to meet an inspirational woman whose remarkable efforts left us in awe.

This selfless woman has sacrificed her comforts and dedicated her life to serving her people, using her own earnings and seeking support from donors to sustain essential initiatives:

1. Kidney Dialysis Support:

Kidney issues are alarmingly high in the region due to contaminated drinking water. At the local kidney ward, this woman is known by name to every patient. Currently, 40 patients are registered, with eight undergoing dialysis for three hours, 2–3 times a week. While the government covers 30% of the costs, the remaining 70% is a burden on patients, including dialysis, medication, and a special diet during treatment.

2. Daily Feeding Programme – 4000 Meals:
She oversees the preparation and distribution of daily iftaar meals for the most vulnerable, delivering food door-to-door during Ramadhaan.

3. Handmade Wool Rugs:
Empowering 21 women, she helps them transform waste animal hair into yarn for handmade rugs. Although they had access to skins, treatment processes, and dye, they lacked the synthetic mesh required for weaving.

4. Sewing Skills and Income Generation:
Through this programme, women are taught to sew and provided with sewing machines to generate income. An agreement with local fabric and garment shops allows these women to offer alteration and repair services, sharing a small contribution with the shop owners.

We did not inform this incredible woman in advance that we had come to support her programme. When we asked her how she planned to continue the feeding programme, she simply raised her hands and said, “ALLAH is the Provider of all.”

When we announced our support, her first response was not to speak, but to weep in sujood, expressing her gratitude directly to her Lord before turning to us.

SubhanALLAH, her unwavering tawakkul was a reminder of the hadith:

“If you relied upon ALLAH with the reliance He is due, you would be given provision like the birds: they go out in the morning hungry and return with full bellies.” (Tirmidhi)

Through your donations, we were able to:
* Sponsor the special diet for kidney patients for the next two months.
* Contribute to the Ramadhaan iftaar feeding programme.
* Provide materials for 20 wool rugs.

We are currently in discussion about enhancing the sewing empowerment programme, In Shaa ALLAH. Further details will follow, but the cost of a manual sewing machine is £150, while a digital machine is £200.

After this humbling experience, we continued our final 6-hour journey to Nouakchott, arriving just in time for Iftaar. May ALLAH bless you all for your generosity, which made this support possible. Keep this incredible woman and her people in your prayers.

After much-needed rest, we were honored to attend an achievement program at the esteemed Markaz Takwin al-‘Ulama (Center for the Training of Islamic Scholars) in Nouakchott.

Admission to the Markaz is highly selective; prospective students must have memorised the Qur’an and be regular in the Tahajjud prayer. The comprehensive curriculum spans approximately 17 years, encompassing Qur’ānic studies, Hadith, Fiqh, Dhikr, Seerah, and Islamic Philosophy. The program is structured into three phases: six years at the high school level, four years at the university level, and eight years at the doctoral level. During the high school phase, students master the seven styles of Qira’ah (Qur’anic recitation), and at the doctoral level, they specialise in an additional three styles.

Currently, the Markaz accommodates 619 students, both male and female, including 93 international students primarily from the African continent. The institution is supported by a dedicated staff of 107 members, covering roles from teaching to kitchen, cleaning, and maintenance services. This current year, there are 26 doctoral candidates, with an equal representation of male and female scholars.

We were graciously hosted by the leading scholars of the Markaz for Iftaar in a serene desert location near the institution. The evening was enriched with Islamic poetry and nasheeds around a campfire, showcasing the talents of some of the Markaz’s most gifted students.

Through your generous contributions, we were able to support this noble educational program, thereby investing in the future leaders of our Ummah.

On our final day, we organised the distribution of food hampers to 1,000 unsponsored orphan families. These orphans are currently on a waiting list with our partnering organisation and do not receive regular financial support. Alhamdulillah, these provisions will help sustain them through the blessed month of Ramadhaan, alleviating concerns about maintaining their fasts.

We concluded our stay with traditional Mauritanian hospitality during Iftaar, engaging in discussions about future projects and the next steps, In shaa ALLAH. This journey has been profoundly emotional, filled with reflection, gratitude, and a renewed appreciation for the simple blessings we often take for granted.

Note: The nasheed in the accompanying video was performed live by a student from the Markaz Takwin al-‘Ulama