Linguistic and Tourism Bridges
Capacity Building in Chinguetti
The «Linguistic and Tourism Bridges» project is an initiative led by the Europamundo Foundation aimed at empowering the youth of Chinguetti, Mauritania, by strengthening their language and tourism skills to make them key players in local sustainable development. Through specialized training in Spanish, cultural immersion in Spain, and support for creating innovative tourism projects, this initiative seeks to position Chinguetti as a global cultural destination, leveraging planned improvements in local infrastructure.
Chinguetti, known as the «City of Desert Libraries» and a UNESCO World Heritage site, faces significant challenges for tourism development due to infrastructure and connectivity limitations. The cancellation of the Paris-Dakar rally halted nascent tourism growth, leaving the destination mainly dependent on low-impact seasonal charter flights. However, the planned completion of road paving to Chinguetti in 2026 presents a unique opportunity to prepare the local community for a potential increase in international tourism.
Geographic and Demographic
Chinguetti is located in the Sahara Desert in northern Mauritania. Known as the seventh holiest city of Islam, it has a predominantly young population with great untapped human potential in tourism and cultural sectors.
Socioeconomic
The local economy relies mainly on limited seasonal tourism and traditional activities such as subsistence farming and informal trade. The lack of formal employment opportunities drives youth migration to other regions or countries, posing a major barrier to sustainable local development.
Cultural
Chinguetti hosts exceptional cultural heritage, notably its historic libraries containing ancient Islamic manuscripts. This cultural wealth offers great potential to develop sustainable tourism based on authentic cultural experiences and enriching intercultural exchanges.
Implemented by the Europamundo Foundation in 2025, the project comprises three main phases: specialized Spanish language training for local youth (4-6 months), practical linguistic and tourism immersion in Spain for two selected beneficiaries (1 month), and technical support to develop sustainable tourism projects led by the trained youth (5 months). The goal is to empower young locals with advanced linguistic and tourism skills to capitalize on emerging tourism potential.
Youth Empowerment
An initial cohort of 8-10 local youth will receive intensive Spanish language training focused on the tourism sector. Two outstanding participants will undertake practical stays in Spain to gain advanced skills and practical knowledge transferable to the local context.
Sustainable Tourism Innovation
Beneficiaries will receive expert technical support to design innovative tourism projects tailored to Chinguetti’s cultural and environmental characteristics. Economic, social, and environmental viability will be assessed to ensure future sustainability.
International Connection
The project will establish direct links with international tourism stakeholders through Europamundo’s strategic support, enhancing global promotion and significantly increasing Chinguetti’s international visibility as a unique cultural destination.
“Linguistic and Tourism Bridges” is expected to generate transformative impact in Chinguetti by empowering youth, creating innovative and sustainable tourism proposals, and fostering international connections that position this emblematic city as a global cultural reference.
Sustainability and Future
The project lays the foundation for sustainable tourism development, generating alternative employment and income while preserving cultural identity.
Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The project directly impacts:
SDG 4: Quality Education — via specialized language training.
SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth — by promoting sustainable job opportunities.
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities — by strengthening sustainable and responsible local tourism respecting cultural heritage.
SDG 17: Partnerships to Achieve the Goals — through establishing strategic international connections.
Indirectly, it contributes to:
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities — by empowering local youth with new skills.
