Support High Atlas community earthquake resilience

From 22 to 27 May, Aouda Saadia High School organised a cultural event titled ‘Integrated educational activities, support for a better learning’. The six day event was packed with activities – presentations on topics including road safety, ecological agriculture (presented by the Norsys Foundation) and human rights, exhibitions showcasing books, leather and wool products made by participating associations and products from the environmental and health clubs, artistic and poetry themed evenings, a training on first aid, and cultural and sports competitions. Apart from that, visits were organised for some of the high school girls to Safi and Oualidia, and to view the monuments of Marrakech.

The Global Diversity Foundation collaborated with the school during the event to create awareness of the recipes that are the subjects of research under the ongoing study entitled ‘An Ethnobotanical Study of Five Traditional Women’s Recipes’. Samples of ingredients used were displayed and preliminary results of the study were explained. Awareness tools (photos and brochures) relating to the conservation of Morocco’s cultural heritage were also made with the girls from Aouda Saadia for use during the cultural event.

In early July, GDF was fortunate to receive a visit from two GlobalGiving representatives, Aliza and Shonali, who were in Morocco as part of their trip to three countries (Morocco, Spain and France) under GlobalGiving’s In the Field program. Although they were unable to visit Aouda Saadia High School because the school was closed, understanding of similar rehabilitation garden projects was achieved through visits to Dar Taliba Ourika and Dar Taliba Tamazouzte.

You can read more about their trip on Aliza’s blog: http://alizainthefield.tumblr.com/page/2, and in a postcard written by Shonali : http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/gdf-marrakech-girls-school-garden/updates/?subid=21890.