In the heart of Nouakchott, Mauritania’s arid capital, a group of determined students is transforming their schoolyard into a thriving green oasis. At Sebkha II Secondary School, where sandy, saline soil and scorching temperatures once made gardening seem impossible, students are now harvesting eggplants, okra, and even tomatoes. Their secret? Hard work, creativity, and the support of the NGO BiodiverCités.

Three years ago, the NGO launched a 'Green Club' at the school. With a groundwater pump and a strict watering schedule, students began rehabilitating the soil using fertilizer and grasses to introduce essential nutrients. The results are not only visible but tangible: cooler air in the schoolyard, fresh moringa leaves turned into juice by students’ families, and a new sense of pride and purpose.

Student Awa M’Bayegaye brings family members to see the garden’s impact on the environment, while her mother sells moringa juice for extra income. Fellow student Safia Sow, who received a certificate for her work, dreams of studying agriculture. A visit to a technical university in Rosso exposed her to solar heating, biogas, and composting—ideas she hopes to bring back to her school.

The project’s success has caught national attention. After a report aired on state television, ministries began inquiring about replicating the initiative. For Maimouna Saleck, president of BiodiverCités, this is just the beginning. “If we can inspire others,” she says, “it will be a revolution.”

From a single school garden, a movement is growing — one that blends education, sustainability, and community empowerment to help tackle problems such as water scarcityand green the future of Mauritania.