{"id":24024,"date":"2023-02-24T16:06:07","date_gmt":"2023-02-24T16:06:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/highatlasfoundation.org\/?p=24024"},"modified":"2023-02-24T16:21:31","modified_gmt":"2023-02-24T16:21:31","slug":"literacy-and-business-training-bring-moroccan-women-together","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wordpress-haf.ddev.site\/literacy-and-business-training-bring-moroccan-women-together\/","title":{"rendered":"Literacy and Business Training Bring Moroccan Women Together"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Ellen Hernandez, HAF Writer and Editor<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

The women in Tafraoute village take responsibility for everything from cleaning, cooking, and child-rearing to exterior home upkeep and farming chores. The majority of men have left to seek employment in big cities, such as Agadir or Casablanca. As a result, they report, the women have adjusted to doing everything.<\/p>\n

In November, 28 of the local women of Tafraoute (Sidi Boulakhlaf commune, Azilal province) chose to participate in a rights-based, four-day empowerment workshop to express these sentiments and more in a journey of self-discovery. As one woman, Hakima, remarked, \u201cThank you so much for thinking of us. These four days were like traveling spiritually.\u201d<\/p>\n

It was clear to the team from the High Atlas Foundation from the start that they would have to make an effort to help the women communicate and interact, but, thanks to previous technical training by a delegate of the cooperation office, the women were ready to learn new skills and gain more knowledge. The women broke the ice and brought down walls that used to prevent them from voicing their thoughts and feelings, saying that they are often asked to obey others’ orders without question.<\/p>\n

\u201dIt is forbidden for us to say NO to a male\u2019s request,\u201d noted Fouzia.<\/p>\n

By the last day, they were totally changed, becoming more confident in themselves, expressing their feelings towards each other, and sharing their opinions.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, in the Kerrouchen commune (Khenifra province), forty more women from ages 19 to 70 benefited from a similar workshop through the HAF Family Literacy Beni Mellal Khenifra team. The younger women there dream of building a good future for themselves and their families, whereas the older ones talked about health and food as essential elements of life. However, the one thing that they were all seeking is literacy classes. They all believe that education is the key to all the locked doors.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen we started the literacy classes, my opinion towards things changed,\u201d said Hafida.<\/p>\n

The women, who are participating in literacy classes, are no longer as shy as they once were, even laughing and loudly sharing their opinions, finding the drawing activities as a kind of therapy. Their teacher, Rabha, noted \u201cI teach those women every day. They have never been so active as now. You have brought out the best in us.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the end, receiving the certificates was a celebration. They sang and danced to show their happiness. They were proud of what they did, especially since that was the only time they had done something for themselves first.<\/p>\n

October and November also saw these other activities take place:<\/p>\n