The Canary Islands Government, through the Vice-Ministry of the President's Office, has chartered a container with medical, educational, and sports equipment for Mauritania, within the framework of Agenda 2030.
This shipment - whose cost and logistics have been covered by the company Servilog - departed this Thursday, December 25, and continues the initiatives launched by Islas Responsables Lab (IRLab) following the institutional visit made last October by Deputy Minister Octavio Caraballo to Nouakchott to present the "Ball of Hope" and "Mauritania Fashion Cluster" projects.
Caraballo emphasized that these projects, carried out by the Canary Islands Government in Mauritania, aim to strengthen community cohesion and reduce social vulnerability, and also have a component of "raising awareness about the risks of migration on the dangerous Atlantic Route, as well as social integration projects."
The deputy minister highlighted that these types of proposals are key to the economic and social development of Africa. In his opinion, the only effective response to the migratory phenomenon is to give opportunities to young people in their homeland "instead of building walls".
He recalled that Mauritania, along with Senegal, is one of the countries from which a large number of pirogues depart for the Canary Islands, and he highlighted the "need and moral obligation" to offer opportunities to young people in their own country, as these actions will ultimately contribute to reducing the number of people who lose their lives at sea seeking a future in Europe.
Reducing Maternal and Infant Mortality
Among the donated material is a **complete operating room donated by a doctor from Tenerife in a personal capacity** which will be delivered to the **Ministry of Health of Mauritania** and installed at the **Mother-Child Hospital Center of Nouakchott (CHME)**, the country's reference public maternal and child hospital. This facility has more than **150 beds** and nearly **400 professionals**, and among its priorities is reducing maternal and neonatal mortality
This donation is particularly relevant in a context marked by high maternal mortality in Mauritania, where there are approximately 46 deaths per month related to childbirth and a rate of 424 deaths per 100,000 live births, well above the regional average. Adolescents account for more than a quarter of these deaths, and neonatal mortality stands at 22 per 1,000 live births, mainly due to preventable causes.
The initiative aligns with the priorities of the Government of Mauritania, which has recently created the Safe Motherhood Observatory, aimed at achieving the goal of zero preventable maternal deaths by strengthening emergency obstetric and neonatal care, improving access to safe blood, combating malnutrition, strengthening maternal death surveillance, and reforming the obstetric system. With this action, the Government of the Canary Islands reinforces its commitment to Mauritania, betting on health, sports, and creativity as drivers of development, opportunities, and a future for Mauritanian youth.
Projects driven by the Canary Islands
The shipment also includes a batch of computers intended for the management of the Ball of Hope projects and the Mauritania Fashion Cluster, which has the backing of the Government of the Canary Islands. Created in September of this year, the cluster aims to provide training and visibility to female talent in this country, thereby contributing to the generation of future opportunities. The initiative already brings together more than 20 young fashion, jewelry, and footwear designers, and plans to launch its first joint collection in June 2026.
Soon, a new donation promoted by the regional Executive will allow the project to be equipped with the necessary equipment and supplies to carry out this collection.
Sports Equipment
On the other hand, the Tenerife Sports Club Foundation, the Unión Deportiva Tenerife Costa Adeje Canary Foundation, and the Canary Islands Football Federation Foundation of Las Palmas have donated sports equipment for the "Ball of Hope" project, an initiative by the Mauritanian Ministry of Youth Autonomy, Employment, Sports, and Civic Services, the Canary-Mauritanian Foundation for Economic and Social Development, and the Mauritanian National Football Federation (FFRIM), which has the support of the Vice-Ministry of the President's Office of the Canary Islands
This proposal uses football as a tool for inclusion and involves approximately 2,500 young people from disadvantaged neighborhoods with the aim of reducing social vulnerability, fostering community participation, and generating training and professionalization opportunities.
The technical training provided by the FFRIM will begin in January 2026 and, after the Ramadan period, a championship structured in three zones and nine teams with young Mauritanian prospects will be initiated. The project includes training for girls in organization and refereeing.
