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 for Morocco’s bright future.

The event celebrated fifteen years of human development at the HAF, but it also celebrated the magnitude and meaning behind one of HAF’s most recent projects, the House of Life. Endorsed by the Global Clinton Initiative, the House of Life project is an agricultural initiative that seeks to facilitate the loaning of the land surrounding Jewish burial sites to neighboring Muslim farming communities. From there, the land is put to use through the establishment of organic tree and medicinal nurses, the profit of which benefits the entire community. Special in both the Middle Eastern and the global context, House of Life represents possibilities for interfaith coexistence and sustainable human development in the realm of agriculture.

Needless to say, the night is bound in our hearts. It was a celebration with all of those who share a dedication to Morocco and its future. The evening was brought to life by powerful and heartfelt speeches, delivered by Morocco’s Peace Corps Director, Ellen Paquette, the HAF President Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir, U.S. Ambassador Dwight Bush, and H.E. André Azoulay, the Advisor to His Majesty the King of Morocco. With their kind words and support, the evening brought together people from all different walks of life, from all over Morocco and all over the world, with one commonality in mind— their passion, support, and dedication to Morocco’s future.

After the speeches, Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir, Ambassador Bush, H.E. André Azoulay, President Omar Assobhei and Vice President Moulhime El Bekkali of Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdullah University signed an essential partnership, which will lead toward empowering students to be change agents of participatory community development.

While coming together to celebrating past and current achievements, we cannot forget the future. With the encouragement and support of all of those who have stood with the HAF over the years, we press forward into a new year with new possibilities for growth and prosperity through agriculture and inclusion. Planting season begins in January and the HAF remains as dedicated as ever to rural Moroccan communities. It’s been an amazing fifteen years, but our work is far from finished!

On behalf of the High Atlas Foundation, thank you to all of those who attended the celebration and who have supported the HAF over the years. We look forward to your continued collaboration!

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Learn more at www.highatlasfoundation.org

For more information please contact: HAF@highatlasfoundation.org ; +212 (0) 5 24 42 08 21