Earthquake Rebuilding with Communities in Morocco

I recently joined the High Atlas Foundation (HAF) team in Sidi Rahal for the final day of its four-day Imagine Workshop on women's empowerment. Although I was only present for the last day, the visit offered me an opportunity to spend time with community members, observe the closing moments of the workshop, and reflect on some of the questions surrounding women's economic empowerment.

Part of the day was spent with the children, playing games, jumping rope, dancing, and coloring together. I particularly enjoyed these moments because they allowed us to connect in a relaxed and spontaneous way. There was something special about sharing these simple activities and seeing how easily play could bring people together, even when we did not necessarily share the same language.

During the workshop, I noticed some of the women speaking up and participating in the closing activities. Seeing them pose for photographs with their completion certificates was particularly memorable. They appeared proud of what they had accomplished, and I appreciated being able to witness this moment of recognition at the end of their program. 

Since I do not speak Darija, I could not follow the discussions myself, and I relied on explanations from others to understand what the women had shared. This also meant that I experienced the workshop partly through observation and partly through the perspectives of those who helped me understand it.

One aspect of the discussions that stayed with me was the uncertainty some women expressed about joining a cooperative. As it was explained to me, some questioned whether investing their time in a new initiative would be more worthwhile than pursuing paid work. I found this an interesting consideration because it highlighted the practical questions that accompany the idea of economic empowerment. While cooperatives can create opportunities for collective entrepreneurship, committing to one also involves weighing the time, effort, and potential financial returns against other available options.

It made me reflect on how empowerment is often discussed in terms of the opportunities made available to women, when the question of whether those opportunities are viable for them is equally important. An initiative may offer real potential, but women must still consider how it fits into their financial needs, responsibilities, and aspirations. To me, supporting women's empowerment also means taking their uncertainties seriously, rather than assuming that a particular path will be the right one for everyone. The goal should be to help women make informed decisions about their futures, whatever those decisions may be, and that is precisely what HAF’s Imagine workshop does.

The day concluded with a festive breakfast shared by the community and the HAF team. During the preceding workshop days, HAF had brought breakfast and snacks for the participants, and the community came together to cook and share a meal on the final day. I found this gesture particularly meaningful. It gave the gathering a sense of reciprocity, creating an opportunity for the community to express its appreciation and celebrate the time spent together.

Looking back, I remember the day through these small but meaningful moments: playing with the children, seeing women proudly pose with their certificates, learning about the questions they were considering for their economic futures, and sharing a meal together. Although I could not understand every conversation firsthand, the visit reminded me of the importance of remaining attentive to both what we observe and what community members communicate about their own experiences. 

Women's empowerment involves creating opportunities, but it also requires listening to the women themselves, understanding the realities shaping their decisions, and recognizing that they must ultimately determine what those opportunities mean for their lives.