Amanar [2] is a project organised by GalileoMobile [3], in collaboration with the Instituto de AstrofÃsica de Canarias (IAC) and the Canary Association of Friendship with the Sahrawi People (ACAPS), to inspire children and teachers from the Sahrawi refugee camps near Tindouf, Algeria, and the Canary Islands, Spain, using Astronomy. Our aim is to promote quality science education and support the youth and the teachers from the refugee camps, enhancing both their resilience and engagement in the community through skill development and self-empowerment activities. Additionally, we want to foster sustainable development and a sense of global citizen through Astronomy for the Sahrawi community, that has been in refugee situation for more than 40 years. The project will comprise 2 phases: 1) Astronomy outreach activities and teacher workshops in schools at the Laayoune, Smara, Boujdour, Awserd refugee camps; 2) Astronomy outreach activities and visits to observatories for the refugee children spending the summer in the Canary Islands within the Holidays in Peace program [4]. The IAC will have an active role in the astronomy activities for the summer program, ensuring its continuation for the period 2019 – 2022. Other partners for the project are: Canary Association for Solidarity with the Sahrawi People in Gran Canaria; Universe Awareness; Galileo Teacher Training Program and Meade Instruments. The Sahrawi Ministry of Education has also showed interest in the project.
