August 14, 2015<\/p>\n
By Hannah Rickard, Intern<\/p>\n
HAF interns travel to Essaouira to donate some of HA3\u2019s own walnut oil to members of the culturally diverse HAF community.<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n (Date of Essaouira trip: 08\/5\/15)<\/p>\n Escaping from the heat of Marrakech, HAF intern for technological and social media initiatives, Miranda LaBrash, and intern for multicultural initiatives, Hannah Rickard, took a mid-week excursion to the oasis of Essaouira. Dubbed the \u201cWindy City\u201d, Essaouira is an ancient port city located in the southwestern quadrant of Morocco, and is around three hours by bus from Marrakech.<\/p>\n Formerly known as\u00a0Mogador, Essaouira was established by Sultan S\u012bd\u012b Mu\u1e25ammad ibn \u02bfAbd All\u0101hin in 1765.\u00a0[1]<\/a>\u00a0UNESCO declared the Medina of Essaouira a world heritage site due to the m\u00e9lange of European, Arab, Muslim, and North African architectural influences and styles.\u00a0[2]<\/a>\u00a0As the UNESCO site states, Essaouira \u201cis…an example of a multicultural centre as proven by the coexistence, since its foundation, of diverse ethnic groups, such as the Amazighs, Arabs, Africans, and Europeans as well as multiconfessional (Muslim, Christian, and Jewish).\u201d\u00a0[3]<\/a><\/p>\n Former HAF employee, and current employee for the Bayti Association of Essaouira\u00a0[4]<\/a>, Rakia Hanin, reiterated this statement, as she noted that the Sultan wished to build a city that would be \u201copen to the world\u201d, and that would express Morocco\u2019s genuine and steadfast commitment to tolerance towards the world\u2019s diverse communities.<\/p>\n In 2012, HAF collaborated with members of the Muslim, Jewish, and Christian communities in an education and restoration project in Essaouira. This\u00a0initiative<\/a>, enabled by the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, focused on the process of recovering cemeteries from each of the respective communities and building upon and spreading knowledge and history gained from the recovery work. Four hundred and fifty young people participated in this initiative through presentations and cemetery visits. HAF also helped facilitate the development of a brochure detailing key socio-historical and religious characteristics of the cemeteries to share with future visitors. Additionally, this project resulted in the employment of three members of the Essaouira community as caretakers for the cemeteries. Finally, the project has shown to be a gateway to other community initiatives, including\u00a0interfaith agricultural projects<\/a>\u00a0that started in the region and has now spread beyond.<\/p>\n Wednesday\u2019s trip to Essaouira was a way for HAF to share its gratitude with those who have helped make these cultural diversity initiatives possible, and who continue to progress and fortify HAF\u2019s and Morocco\u2019s goals towards sustainable collaboration across all socio-cultural and religious groups in the Kingdom.<\/p>\n To signify this thanks, HAF donated walnut oil, recently produced through HAF\u2019s own social enterprise, High Atlas Agriculture and Artisanal (HA3). Derived from locally grown walnuts in the Toubkal commune of the Taroudant province, the oil was processed by members of Moroccan communities who are employed at the premiere HA3 facility in Asni. Hannah and Miranda were honored to give two large quantities to the children of the Bayti Association, as well as a bottle each to Mr. Tarik Othmani, the president of the cultural Association of Essaouira Mogador, and HAF advisory board member and senior advisor to His Majesty Mohammed VI, H.E. Mr. Andr\u00e9 Azoulay, and three bottles to each respective guardian of the Jewish, Christian, and Muslim cemeteries.<\/p>\n A distinct Moroccan community, Essaouira serves as an example to the world for understanding and collaboration between members of all different religious, social, and cultural groups. HAF hopes to continue partnerships here, as well as develop further initiatives concerning education and preservation of Morocco\u2019s diverse and rich past and present.<\/p>\n Follow HAF on Twitter\u00a0@HafFdtn<\/a>\u00a0or like us on\u00a0Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n Learn more at\u00a0www.highatlasfoundation.org<\/a><\/p>\n For more information please contact:\u00a0HAF@highatlasfoundation.org<\/a><\/span>\u00a0; +212 (0) 5 24 42 08 21<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
\nAnthony Bald, Intern<\/h5>\n
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