In this video, learn more about how Grand Circle Foundation is helping to empower women in rural Morocco.
In 2012, 13 women came together to create the Imik Simik Women's Association for Rural Development in Morocco hoping to further their education and opportunities. Located just outside the village of Aït Benhaddou, in a predominantly male-dominated area, the association's goal is to create workshops and programs that teach girls and women how to sew, read, cook, develop healthcare and other skills and crafts that otherwise would not be available. It currently generates funding by selling bread, pastries, and couscous to local guesthouses in the village.
Grand Circle Foundation believes in working with communities and local organizations, especially those led by women, to help them become self-sufficient. Since partnering with GCF 2016, donations total more than $87,000 for the center and have gone towards expanding their pastry and couscous production along with creating sewing and embroidery workshops.
Due to government restrictions, cultural beliefs and more, helping women-led organizations become self-sufficient is not always easy to accomplish—which was quickly learned in Morocco. After more than two years of negotiations with local community leaders, the women of Imik Simik finally received permission, land rights, and the approval to build a new women’s center.
Funding from Grand Circle Foundation purchased professional grade kitchen equipment such as a fridge, stove and refrigerated display case, along with professional training in pastry techniques thus allowing the women to expand production and increase their income.
Visit the Imik Simik Women’s Association for Rural Development and see how they’ve improved the livelihood of their community during Morocco Sahara Odyssey.
