By Amina Eajjami
Project manager with High Atlas Foundation

Sustainable development fornew projects requires sustainable training for people. In this regard, the High Atlas Foundation signed a partnership agreement with JLM IAV Hassan II, in Rabat, with the objective of training the women of Aboghlou cooperative. The students educated the women in advanced agricultural technologies within the Ourika Commune.
On April 16^th, 26 women of cooperative learned theoretical and practical techniques about agriculturein the nursery YSL in Ourika. After a grand traditional Moroccanbreakfast, the HAF team and 5 students of JLN IAM Hassan II initiated the training in the nursery,beside a beautiful landscapewith open fields filled with aromatic calendula flowers.

The women were divided by 3 groups; the training covered the following aspects:

• Planting,harvest and grafting almond tree.
• Time of irrigation.
• Planting, harvest and dryingcalendula.

• Problems of the current irrigation system in the nursery and solutions.

The student group shared the design of new labels for cooperative products, as well asprovided a booklet, which had been prepared to include a fully detailed presentation about the cooperative efforts.
At the end of training the women Student facilitator, Soufiane, shown the method of grafting almond trees. The women showed their desire to learn this method and engage in the process.

The women were very happy about the training and they asked many questions to develop the work in the nursery and improve their marketing strategy. They also shared with the students their knowledge in agriculture.
Not just the women who attended the training but also the children were part of that training  and they were sitting in a circle like women and Aya Who is four and a half years old who took the initiative and speak with the group with self – confidence.

In behalf of all High Atlas Foundation we deeply thank the students of JLM IAV Hassan II in Rabat Ahmed El Khawlani, Hajar El Khalfi, Khaoula Jellal, Ibtissam Haouari and Soufiane Kadiri. We’d also like to thank the Agronomic and Veterinary Institute Hassan II in Rabat for supporting trainings in women’s agriculture. Lastly, a huge thank for our partners YSL L’Oreal and PUR project for contributing  significantly to the success the project of the Aboghlou cooperative.