IMPACT 2024

Ali, 30, and his brother live on the edge of the breathtaking Les Greniers Aoujgal in Beni Mellal, Morocco. With a shared vision of developing a rural tourism business, they aspired to create a welcoming space where visitors could experience the region's unique cultural heritage.

To support their dream, AIDECA, through the ASSURIF project, provided essential equipment to host tours and offer comfortable hospitality services. In addition to this, Ali and his brother benefited from tailored business support, including training and coaching, designed to equip them with the skills needed to build and sustain their enterprise.

Thanks to this collaborative effort, Ali and his brother's business is now poised to become a model for eco-friendly and community-driven tourism in the region.

Thanks to the ISED project, the Future Association for Persons with Disabilities in Khouribga has succeeded in turning the principles of community advocacy into a tangible reality that supports the rights of persons with disabilities. Mr. Farid Loustik, the president of the association, confirmed that the constitution and laws grant every individual the right to advocate and participate in community life, which led the association to launch advocacy projects.

In close coordination with local territorial authorities, the association has successfully integrated the issue of accessibility into the design process of public spaces. As a result, accessibility standards have been generalized and an inclusive approach has been ensured in projects organized by the municipality.

The earthquake of 2023 in Morocco had an immense impact on Aicha's life as a young woman in a small Douar in Ait Tamlil commune in the province of Azilal. However, it also became an opportunity for her to enhance her understanding of health and her rights.

"Through AIDECA's support programs, I learned about reproductive health and how to properly use hygiene kits," Aicha explains. "This knowledge has not only helped me personally but has allowed me to become a resource for other young women in my community who face similar challenges after the earthquake."

Aicha's story demonstrates how even amid disaster, targeted interventions can create pathways for empowerment and community resilience.

Souad, a 32-year-old Secretary general of the Cooperative Hjar Beni Mellal, has leveraged her education background to make significant contributions to the regional economy. With AIDECA's support through the ASSURIF program, she has not only grown her construction business but has become an advocate for other entrepreneurs.

As a leader in the ASSURIF network, Souad launched an effective advocacy initiative to facilitate small businesses' access to public tenders, funding, and training opportunities in the Beni Mellal-Khenifra region. Her work has opened doors for numerous other small business owners, particularly women, who previously faced barriers to these resources.

"By working together as a network, we've been able to achieve changes that would have been impossible individually," says Souad. "Now more small businesses can participate in the region's economic growth."