Sant Cugat del Vallès's Dar al-Amal, known as the 'House of Hope', continues its work providing a temporary home for Sahrawi children who need medical treatment in Catalonia. The initiative, run by the association Sant Cugat amb el Poble Sahrauí (SCAPS), currently houses six children, with capacity for eight, and three more awaiting arrival, according to Neus Bosch, a key figure in the project.
Bosch's involvement with Sahrawi children began in 1997 through the 'Vacances en Pau' (Holidays in Peace) programme, which saw six families host children for a month. In 1999, Bosch and her husband became host parents, leading to the establishment of SCAPS as an independent association in 2000. A visit to the Sahrawi refugee camps a decade later prompted the creation of Dar al-Amal, a dedicated flat for ill children requiring care in Catalonia.
"When you go down to the camps, no matter how much you've been told, you see the precariousness of their lives and understand the need for children to come to Catalonia for treatment," Bosch explained. She and the SCAPS volunteer network gradually developed the project, eventually naming it Dar al-Amal.
Overcoming Bureaucracy for Care
Bringing children to Catalonia involves a complex bureaucratic process. First, the Sahrawi Ministry of Health assesses each case, confirming that treatment is not possible in the camps or Algeria. Parents must then sign a document agreeing to the child's treatment and their return after discharge. "We do not process papers; the children come via humanitarian channels," Bosch clarified.
SCAPS commits to covering non-medical expenses and submits the application to the Catalan government, which must accept the case on humanitarian grounds. As minors are involved, permission from the DGAIA (Directorate General for Child and Adolescent Care) is also required. Finally, the visa is processed through the Spanish consulate in Algeria. "Salma, for example, arrived here and we had to go directly to the hospital because her situation was very delicate," Bosch said.
The children receive treatment at hospitals such as Mútua Terrassa, Vall d'Hebron, and Sant Joan de Déu. Bosch organises their transport, while other volunteers handle daily tasks. Catalina García, for instance, acts as a link between the children and their schools, coordinating with tutors and helping with homework or excursions. She and her husband also take on maintenance tasks for the flat. Maria Rosa Barrasús manages menus and clothing, and assists with hospital accompaniment when needed.
A Home Away From Home
The children are not alone at Dar al-Amal. Gbaila Mohamed Salem, a Sahrawi stateless person, lives with them permanently. She cares for the children and the home, providing a vital link through shared language and culture. Bosch emphasised that the project would be impossible without the extensive volunteer network. The initiative also involves young people from Sant Cugat and Barcelona schools, who complete their mandatory community service there.
The children adapt quickly to their new environment. Leyla, for example, speaks perfect Catalan, and the others understand it and try to speak it. Bosch, Cati, and Maria Rosa always address them in Catalan. The children attend local schools, including L'Olivera, La Mirada, and the Angeleta Ferrer and Joaquima Pla i Farreras institutes. "The teachers are wonderful and make them feel very comfortable. These are children who don't have their families here, and that is very difficult," Bosch highlighted.
Despite the dedication of Bosch and the volunteers, a generational change is needed. "We need young people to take the lead. Since we opened the flat in 2010, it's been almost the same people," Bosch noted. "We have volunteers, but we lack people to take on management tasks: accounts, statutes, paperwork." Looking ahead, Bosch is clear: "I will only close the flat the day the Sahrawis can return to their country."
