By Fatima Zahra Laaribi
Women’s Empowerment Trainer

In the heart of Ourika Valley, the Aboghlou Women’s Cooperative, YSL Beauté, PUR Project, and the High Atlas Foundation succeeded in creating a beautiful organic nursery of calendula and other medicinal plants, as well as almond trees. The nursery is managed by the Cooperative of 39 women.

The women of the Cooperative showed a very warm welcome to the 100 guests by sharing their accomplishments, serving mint tea, designing henna, and sharing a variety of local foods.

The nursery was transformed into celebration space, with open areas covered with traditional red carpets and wool pillows, where the visitors discovered artisanal Amazigh traditions.  The baking barley bread gave a wonderful scent, taking us into the rural lives of the Moroccan women.

The 14^th of November was a special day for the Aboghlou members, due to the wonderful YSL Beauté visitors who came to celebrate the achievements of the women’s work.

Both hosts and visitors had a great day together, everyone sharing the excitement in each of women’s eyes. This global gathering reflects how HAF and its partners strengthen relationships and bridge gaps between people of all walks of life – for the sake of empowerment.

This initiative means a lot to the women and it encourages them to discover and achieve their goals, as well as appreciate all the accomplishments that they have realized so far.

Each partner was given the opportunity to be closer to each other and feel the tangible impact of this project.

Before concluding the day, each guest was given the opportunity to participate, leaving their good footprint by planting flowers of calendula and medicinal plants.