By Hannah Rickard July 8, 2015 Interns from the High Atlas Foundation (HAF) visit the walnut facility in Asni to learn more about the production process and future plans from manager Hassan Inflass. Last week, three High Atlas Foundation Interns, Jamal Sebnat, Miranda LaBrash, and Hannah Rickard, grabbed a taxi from the Medina and headed

By Jamal Sebnat July 11, 2015 Jamal Sebnat reflects on his first two months as an intern with the High Atlas Foundation, specifically his work with High Atlas Agriculture and Artisanal. As an Intern at the High Atlas Foundation, the months May and June have been very enriching for me. I have participated in various

By Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir July 11, 2015 The implications of decentralization for societies in the context of human development. The Arab Spring signals a time of great potential to address the primary challenge currently facing governments and people in the Middle East and North Africa: to advance human development at a hitherto unseen pace and

By Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir July 15, 2015 Dr. Ben-Meir discusses the Peace Corps and its untapped potential for the Arab Spring and for international development as a whole. While typical two-year Peace Corps volunteer assignments are likely prohibitive in many Arab Spring countries, Peace Corps Response, the agency’s program for shorter, specialized assignments is perhaps

– Swiss Embassy Offsets Carbon Footprint by Planting Trees, Scoop, 15 July 2015. MARRAKESH – The Swiss Embassy in Rabat is offsetting its carbon emissions by supporting Sami’s Project, an initiative from the High Atlas Foundation that is dedicated to increasing the quality of education in rural Morocco. The Embassy’s donation of 46,800 MAD, implemented through the

By Ali Ait Oubkhane July 27, 2015 This blog post details Intern Ali Ait Oubkhane’s appreciation for the opportunity to work with HAF and assist both peer students and CSOs through the legal aid program. تقييم تجربة التدريب في مؤسسة الأطلس الكبير للمتدرب علي ايت اوبخان لا اجد الكلمات لأعبر على السعادة التي كنت اشعر

By Hajar Mouhajir July 31, 2015 This blog post in Arabic details Intern Hajar Mouhajir’s work with HAF assisting peer students and CSOs through the legal aid program. تقييم تجربة التدريب في مؤسسة الأطلس الكبير للمتدربة هاجر مهاجر  تشرفت بتجربتي في مؤسسة الاطلس الكبير حيث كانت تجربة شيقة مليئة بالاحماس والرغبة في مساعدة الاخرين مما

By Meryem Talhy and Dounia Jamal Eddine July 31, 2015 This blog post in Arabic details Mohammedia Interns Meryem Talhy and Dounia Jamal Eddine’s appreciation for the opportunity to intern with HAF and assist both their peer students and CSOs through the legal aid program. تقييم تجربة التدريب في مؤسسة الأطلس الكبير للمتدربة مريم طالحي

By Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir, HAF President July 31, 2015 Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir reflects on this year’s Throne Day by recognizing King Mohammed VI’s promotion of sustainable development and the potential for progress in not just Morocco, but all of the Arab Spring countries. Morocco’s experience during this tumultuous time in the region is largely due

By Hannah Rickard, Intern for Multicultural Initiatives August 6, 2015 HAF team members attend the annual Throne Day party as guests of the president of the Jewish Community of Marrakesh-Essaouira, Mr. Jacky Kadoch. On a warm, breezy evening on Tuesday, July 28th, High Atlas Foundation (HAF) Interim Executive Director/Director of Development Jacqueline Seeley, Communications Assistant

– Lending Land to Enhance Life, Scoop News, by Kati Roumani (HAF Moroccan Decentralization: Step by Step, Jerusalem Post, by Yossef Ben-Meir (HAF President), 6 August 2015. HOUSE OF LIFE is an innovative agricultural initiative whose implications are broad and resonate acutely with current world events; set in the specific context of Moroccan human development needs and cultural history, the

August 10, 2015 The High Atlas Foundation’s August Newsletter features updates on the HOUSE OF LIFE initiative, as well as Sami’s Project and the “Baby Booties” initiative in the Tassa Ouirgane community. High Atlas Foundation’s Commitment to Action HOUSE OF LIFE is an innovative agricultural initiative whose implications are broad and resonate acutely with current

August 14, 2015 By Hannah Rickard, Intern HAF interns travel to Essaouira to donate some of HA3’s own walnut oil to members of the culturally diverse HAF community.   (Date of Essaouira trip: 08/5/15) Escaping from the heat of Marrakech, HAF intern for technological and social media initiatives, Miranda LaBrash, and intern for multicultural initiatives,

August 31, 2015 The following text (translated from Arabic) discusses the most recent democratic planning workshop in Boujdour Province, supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). The workshop is part of a 12-month training program for 40 members of local civil society organizations. Training In Boujdour: August 6, 2015 Location: Associative Space Time: Half

September 7, 2015 The following press release comes from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The release is also available in French and Arabic. Geneva, Switzerland UNDP has launched today a global story-telling contest, Voices2Paris, to contribute to raising public awareness on the negative impacts of climate change as well as on the opportunities and solutions seen in actions

By Caroline Hoffmann, Report & Public Information Officer September 8, 2015 The following post describes a visit by American high school students to cemeteries in Essaouira, for the purpose of developing an understanding of Morocco’s rich history. American high school students on scholarship to study Arabic toured the historic Christian and Jewish cemeteries in Essaouira

By Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir, HAF president September 28, 2015 Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir explains the importance of a collaborative, sustainable approach to human development, which enables communities, assisted by trained facilitators, to plan their own projects. Socrates, I imagine, might well have found himself at home at a modern-day community meeting, during which local people discuss the

By Ida Sophie Winter September 28, 2015 The following blog post details how the High Atlas Foundation is helping rural Moroccan communities reap the benefits of value-added almond processing.   The High Atlas Foundation and 693 rural High Atlas families have produced 100 tons of almonds this year, many of which are grown on over 100

By Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir, HAF President September 28, 2015 Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir discusses the goals of Gender and Development (GAD) and HAF’s work on gender empowerment in Morocco. Gender and Development (or Gender Empowerment) refers to measures needed to give women more control over their lives.  Among the goals of GAD is increasing women’s participation in

By Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir, HAF president October 5, 2015 The following statement was written by HAF president Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir for the UN Economic and Social Council. The statement discusses the importance of strengthening the means by which nations can implement the overall sustainable development global vision. We believe people’s participation, capacity building amongst stakeholders, cultural sensitivity

On October 22, 2015 the United States Ambassador to the Kingom of Morocco, Mr. Dwight Bush, hosted in his Rabat home, Villa America, a reception to celebrate the human development work of the High Atlas Foundation in Morocco. The special gathering included 100 guests from different walks of life but who all share a dedication to

By Elle Houby, HAF Development member October 27, 2015 Last week, on the evening of October 22, 2015, around one hundred guests gathered at Villa America, the U.S. Ambassador Dwight L. Bush’s residence in Rabat to celebrate a milestone for the High Atlas Foundation. In 2000, former Peace Corps volunteers founded the HAF with a vision

By Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir October 28, 2015 HAF president Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir expresses his gratitude for last week’s event hosted by the United States Ambassador to the Kingom of Morocco, Mr. Dwight Bush, in his Rabat home, Villa America, where a reception was held to celebrate the human development work of the High Atlas Foundation

By Pommelien da Silva Cosme, Intern November 10, 2015 In May 2015, HAF Development Director, Jacque Seeley taught an English class to a group of young, enthusiastic students at the University Hassan II in Mohammedia. It was the first time HAF engaged in teaching English at the University. It proved to be a great experience and

By Ida Sophie Winter HAF Project Manager November 11, 2015 Moroccan fig trees are a part of Ahmed Hakam. Until he was nine years old, Ahmed never ventured outside of his birth village near the northern city of Ouezzane. He vividly remembers the local fig harvest, when, every year, he, his mother and scores of

November 13, 2015 The Ecological Footprint can be thought of as a tool for measurement and communication used to track human demand on the Earth’s natural resource flows. The Ecological Footprint, for example, – enables definition of sustainability in specific and measurable terms (which is ultimately determined by not just    environmental but also economic, social,

By Ida Sophie Winter HAF Project Manager November 16, 2015 On Friday November 13 2015, Yossef Ben-Meir spoke to the ability of students at Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane to effect social change in their communities and country. “You have to realize your power… and that is your right. And it is the right of

November 19, 2015 The saffron season is almost over – but we were just in time to visit a beautiful Saffron Garden in Ourika Valley and talk to Miloud, who has been working with the “red gold” for over 14 years. “When I close my eyes, I see Saffron,” Miloud confessed. With passion, he showed

November 24, 2015 By Hannah Urtz The success of a non-profit depends largely upon its key players—their commitment and dedication to the work that they do and their passion for bringing about change. The High Atlas Foundation is no different, relying heavily upon the investment of their stakeholders at all levels, including their office and

Pledging to Fight Poverty and Marginalization in Morocco The High Atlas Foundation has joined #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Occurring this year on December 1, #GivingTuesday is held annually on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving (in the