Maaden El Ervane or “the deposit of knowledge” in local Arabic dialect, is a green oasis nestled in the depths of the vast Mauritanian desert, where communal living, spirituality, and sustainable agriculture are the keys to a harmonious existence for all. “It’s a good place to live,” says Zeinab Mintou Boubou, president of the farmers' cooperative. “People work in the same conditions, men and women. We all support each other.” IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES ARRANGED IN SEQUENCES