Morocco holiday, deserts and valleys

Planet

Our ground agent in Morocco is committed to the sustainable development of the local tourism industry and they push their suppliers to preserve the nature and planet by identifying new methods for waste disposal, recycling, energy saving and other environmental initiatives. For example, the Bio Aromatic garden situated about 22 miles from Marrakech city centre in the region of Tnine Ourika contains about 40 different species of medicinal and aromatic plants from the region. The production of these plants is strictly biological (no chemicals).

Our ground agent also aims to make a positive impact upon the environment and the local community in the area of the Atlas Mountains with the partnership of local associations. These associations have a non lucrative goal, and their objectives are:
• Promotion of schooling in the area
• Participation in the improvement of the infrastructure
• Participation in the development of agriculture in the area
• Sensitising and mobilisation of the inhabitants, especially young people and the rural woman
• Sensitising with the safeguarding of the natural resources.
• To come to assistance of the rural woman (to fight tale illiteracy, to improve its way of life).
• To level establishments of pre-school.

Their aim is to assist clients to actively participate in one of these associations local projects that will be of help to local people. Projects are numerous and could be integrated into an excursion day to the Atlas Mountains, this is very rewarding to each one of the participants.

As a company their policy is to use local suppliers, they will never ask a caterer from Marrakech or elsewhere to work in a village up in the mountain - they give this part of the business to locals that are trained to fulfil our standard of service.

Examples of CSR projects that they have already achieved:
- Sponsor of school building in the village of Agergour in the region of Asni (1 hour drive from Marrakech). The official opening of the school was done with clients and the local community.
- Sponsor of 2 incinerator buildings, to destroy garbage that is collected from the mountains by the locals in the village of Imlil. The day when the incinerators started functioning the participants built adobe walls to protect the structure. They had lunch in the village with local dignitaries.
- Charity: every year they manage to sponsor the buying of school bags (+/- 200 pieces) that are sent to local association for distribution.
- Olive tree planting

More project ideas which clients can participate in are:
• The building of a community hamman (bath house)
• The clearing and marking of paths for the mules to help villagers bring water or carry a burden.
• To equip the local schools for adult illiterates: tables, chairs….
• Building benches with cement and stones in the local schoolyard.
• Strengthening the local irrigation canal.

People

In our support of the Amal cooking class, our mission is to provide a safe and loving space where strong, resilient women can rewrite their narratives and step into their power. In Morocco, women make up only 25% of the workforce. Women’s labor is largely unpaid and undervalued, we're working to change that.Amal offers a unique training program for women to learn the ropes of cooking in a professional setting. Our trainees learn by doing under the guidance of experienced chefs to earn a valuable skill-set that helps them secure their first job in the local food sector. The training is the core of why Amal exists, and the trainees are at the heart of our mission.

In addition to the practical aspect, the training includes classes in French and life skills. Community members also volunteer their time to give our trainees fun, enriching experiences like yoga or art classes. We receive up to 100 applications for every cohort of 15 trainees, as the training is seen as a valuable path to personal and professional transformation. We select students who demonstrate the most need, as well as that 'spark' of motivation and drive to put in the work and change their narratives.