Improve Rural Moroccan Schools: Sami's Project

Since 2015 the High Atlas Foundation (HAF) is working with the community of Ait Ourire in the Al Haouz province and planted 1827 organic fruit trees with 23 schools, engaging thousands of students in these environmental activities. 

Today Mrs. Martine Roberts, HAF board member from the US, joined Errachid Montassir, HAF project manager, to one of the environmental workshops, which took a place in the "Ariad" primary school in Ait Ourire. The workshop engaged 37 young students, 24 female and 13 male, who learned about the impact of their daily decisions on the natural environment and how their own actions can help to protect it. The students also learned how to plant trees and how they benefit the environment and society. Last but not least theory was brought into action when the students identified environmental challenges of their school using participatory methods and planted 10 pomegranate, 10 carob, 5 fig and 5 grape trees. 

It was inspiring to observe the students debating about their environmental challenges, coming to a consensus that dumping garbage in the school yard is their biggest challenge and deciding to take action to keep the school and their environment clean. This showed that environmental protection starts with every single one of us. HAF is propelled to return and help the students achieve their full potential through implementing their project ideas with them.