Six Sacyr professionals participated in an international volunteer program organized by the Sacyr Foundation in collaboration with the NGO UPlanet.
Paco Molina, Iván Roselló, Camila Quintín, Eva Abad, Lucía Cecilia, and Ana Grande spent a week in Bir Moghrein, an isolated village in northern Mauritania. The expedition also included Rubén Fernández, Ana Grande's son, along with a group of 30 healthcare professionals from HumanCoop, four members of UPlanet, and a professional from Viamed, Rodrigo Morilla, a former Sacyr colleague.
This marks the second edition of the volunteer program in Mauritania, which aims for Sacyr professionals to help repair and develop infrastructure that impacts the lives of the local population.
Among the projects they collaborated on, a highlight was the repair of deficiencies in the village's desalination plant to improve water production and quality. Additionally, the necessary technical documentation was created for the installation of a new containerized desalination plant, which is scheduled to arrive in the summer.
The electrical system of the health center was also renovated, a project to install new latrines in the primary school was developed, and progress was made on a one-hectare garden project to provide food for the population and create employment for women.
Finally, an entrepreneurship workshop was organized to boost the local economy among women.
A tough but rewarding experience
"On a personal level, it has been an incredible experience; it grounds you and gives you a lot of perspective on life. Professionally, it has been rewarding to be able to make my small contribution through this wonderful profession," explains Camila Quintín (Sacyr Engineering and Infrastructure).
Paco Molina and Iván Roselló, both from Sacyr Water, collaborated on improving the desalination plant's facilities. They adjusted water quality by implementing a mixing system with filtered water to extend the life of the membranes. They also created a bypass for the filter backwash water.
Paco Molina states that it is a trip "worth repeating." "It has been a tough yet kind, disheartening yet enriching, selfish yet selfless experience – a mix of contrasting feelings, but always with a positive balance," he adds.
"We have bridged gaps through effort and collaboration," affirms Iván Roselló.
"Our group created a balanced ecosystem in a remote and inhospitable place. A reality check that puts my concept of 'life' into perspective," says Eva Abad (Sacyr Proyecta).
Ana Grande (Sacyr Holding) emphasizes that this volunteering experience is a "challenge overcome." "I applied engineering outside of my comfort zone, engaged in teamwork, and gained real learning. It has been an experience that adds value professionally and personally, thanks to the people with whom I shared this adventure," remarks Ana.
"It has been a tough but very rewarding experience at the same time. Helping these people who have so little gives you another perspective on life and what is truly important, which is helping each other. I value the human warmth of my colleagues," explains Lucía Cecilia (Sacyr Holding).
Rubén Fernández, in charge of the electrical tasks, stated that "the lack of technical materials made work difficult at the clinic, but with effort and improvisation, we managed to get our job done." He adds, "It has been a different and tough experience, but I have learned so much about how fortunate we are to live in a country like ours and the ease we have in Europe of drinking tap water and finding whatever you need in any store."
Collaboration with UPlanet
The collaboration between the Sacyr Foundation and UPlanet is fundamental for integrating infrastructure in this underdeveloped region, isolated by a vast desert expanse. UPlanet, in turn, collaborates with HumanCoop, which organizes medical-surgical missions to the country, thereby creating synergies in organizing all logistics.
The next initiative we will collaborate on will be the installation of a new portable containerized desalination plant, which will arrive in Bir Moghrein in the summer.
"Our collaboration with UPlanet helps us reach these remote areas, where, thanks to our help, they can count on experts in infrastructure and water who collaborate to improve the facilities of these communities," explains Pedro Alonso, Director of the Sacyr Foundation.
"International volunteer programs help our professionals step outside their usual scope of work and grow as individuals," he explains.
"At UPlanet, we believe that community development hinges on improving basic infrastructure, which allows for laying the foundations of sustainable development. Thanks to the collaboration and contribution of the Sacyr Foundation, the actions carried out in agriculture, water, and sanitation have been a success. They have immeasurable value," explains Matías Fernández, Presidente of UPlanet, a former colleague from Sacyr Water, and coordinator of the field mission conducted in Bir Moghrein.
