Day SIX in Morocco- Nov. 13, 2009

6th day of delegations- Friday 11/13/2009

 Last day of Delegations.  Today is the day to visit the cooperatives.  I am assigned to the 1^st group that would be going to Buttons- cooperative artisanale Feminine de Boutons en soie “Cerises” –Sefrou, with button class and home lunch.  This sounded so interesting to explore but I wanted to go to the 2^nd group “Adwal Weavers Cooperative”- Ribat El Kheir .  It is located in the Eastern Middle Atlas Mountains at 3500 feet, and is 50km from both Fes and Sefrou.  (Of course me and Megan were able to change our assignments…no comment there :)) This village is a mix of both traditional and modern views.  You can find girls optioned not to finish their school and went to learn a skill in one of these cooperatives while others pursued further their education, finshed high school or better yet, they got a PHD.   We talked to the supervisor and manager of the “Rabat Al-kheir” business to have an idea about the work of the women there.  Everyone bought shawls and rugs, very well made.   After we visited the cooperative, 4 girls were all around me speaking with me in Arabic and inviting me to their homes.  

People in the area are very respectful and have  a great hospitality.  One family invited the group of 14 women from the CWD to have lunch at their humble home.   All the delegates rode the bus heading to the house where the lunch is being prepared  which was 2 blocks away but these 4 girls won’t let me go.   They were between the ages of 16 – 18 years old.  They were asking me questions about the education in the States and trying to compare it to the education in their town.   I thought that was very helpful to them so I walked with them where they were giggling, laughing and holding my hand all the way to the house.  I was the only person left walking with them.  It was really fun.   We arrived to the home of this humble lady with her husband, 4 kids and the grandmother.  We sat in a rectangle room where everyone sat together shoulder to shoulder.   The room was small compared to the number of people in it.  It seemed that the whole village came with us and joined us for lunch.  They served home made couscous as the first meal with chicken, special olives, Moroccan bread and ending it with fruit and Moroccan tea.

The Mayor of the town and other officials joined us and treated us like royalty.  We took pictures and as we were ready to leave, the grandmother came in say hello to everyone.  It was a very touchy moment where you see infront of you generations together share the same humble life style.  The grandmother was an adorable old lady who seemed very healthy.  Actually, she helped prepare the meal for us.  I don’t know what happened to me but as she was speaking  my eyes were teary, it was a  “ WOW” moment for me.  I am not sure how to explain that, but she was a full of history, wealth, vulnerability that really threw me off.   (see picture below)

We went back on the bus saying our goodbyes to our hosts.  It was a long departure.  Everyone started side conversations where then Autumn (the coordinator for that trip) started herding us to the bus so we will be on time for other activities.  We had to leave as we were scheduled with other appointments for that night.    After we arrived to the hotel, I went to the Souk (market) with some of the delegates.  The Souk was closed on Fridays but some of the stores that Saeed (our tour guide ) knew arranged to have them open for us.  I got a lot of spices and products that are known to be great for hair, asthma, skin and wrinkles – no not for me :).  Other delegates bought beautiful rugs and antiques.  Morocco is known of it’s distinguished rugs as they have the Berber, traditional and other kinds of designs that was really hard to keep track off. 

We returned to the hotel at 8pm to have fun at the henna session.  The lady who did the henna for us was very artistic. She drew pictures on some of the women’s hand while music played and other danced to the lovely “Andaluseya” songs.   

The next day we went back to Rabat and checked in back at our hotel.  It was the last day to say our Goodbyes to the beautiful Morocco.  We said goodbyes to each other, took pictures with Saeed (our tour guide) before each delegate left to their different flights leaving to Casablanca and back to the States.

Adwal Weaver at Rabat Al-Kheir Cooperative- Lubna with Girl workers

Women working at the Cooperative making shawls and rugs

A group picture with Women workers at the co-op

Rabat Al-Kheir -Group Picture

Senator Lisa Brown presenting gifts to the Mayor

Mayor of Fes with Megan McCloskey and Lubna Mahadeen

Lunch in Fes with Ribat El Kheir co-op- from left, Lubna Mahadeen, Lynn Dines, Gradmother and Senator Lisa Brown

Shawna Woods and Grandmother speaking at the Lunch in Fes with translater

Famous couscous with vegetables

Chicken with special olives

Tour at Fes Souk- everyone to the wall otherwise you get a “Kiss” from the mule.

Tour at Fes Souk-

Henna night and dancing at Hotel Les Merinides

Henna design

Henna necklace

Henna necklace

Henna Desigm- mine

Group picture with Saeed before leaving to the airport.

Another picture with Saeed and the group

Artistic design at henna night- gorgeous

 

Day FIVE in Morocco- Nov. 12, 2009

5th day of delegations- Thursday 11/12/2009

Today was the day where we met with women in the Fes region and services for marginalized women.  The meeting was in “Sayes Fes Community”.  Souad Sallawi, a  law professor was the leader of the Moroccan women (slaouisouad@yahoo.fr).   Another presenter was “Rajae Slaoui Hammouda/ presidents of the Espace Point de Depart Fez”, Rajaeslaoui@hotmaill.fr Tel; (212) 035 94 28 21.  They presented the history about women in politics in Morocco and the obstacles that were facing them for the past 35 years. 

The community center seemed to be a historic building, the walls were covered with colorful tiles that looked amazing.  (See picture below).  It was long rectangle room, were most of the Moroccan women sat on one side of the room and the delegates with the CWD from Washington sat on the opposite side- just a coincedence.  The presentations were translated in 3 languages English, French and Arabic.  I was sitting in the east side with the Moroccan women, who only knew Arabic and French.  During presentations they served us the famous Moroccan tea and sweats.  It was really hard to resist, if you were on a diet in this trip, this is the best time to break it.  It was worth it.

Some of the information presented to the group was on how women were active in the business field, working on sewing and embroidery.  Some of the women participated in entrepreneur work specializing as a “Wedding Organization” that serves hundreds of individuals.  Their embroidery work was targeting newly wed couples who purchase towels and sheets with special requests for specific embroidery designs on them.

Most of the entrepreneur work was conducted in an informal manner.  This means it wasn’t not required to provide a business license or office signs.  The women in charge hire the appropriate staff to help conducting the work where they utilize their own vehicles to transport the products and proceed with the necessary businesses.  The majority of these businesses get funding through microcredits.  Microcredits play a key role in the success of the small businesses where 70% of the market that is represented by women takes advantage of this opportunity.  This worked perfectly under the current new laws in Morocco which allowed people to do businesses under these conditions where 20 years ago was impossile to accomplish. 

The new laws that the King has approved in Morocco, allowed Moroccan women to open their own businesses and enhance their family situation without the requirement of submitting the husband’s approval as it was required before.  The King’s support sent a clear message to everyone that women’s participation was a key success of their community.  Morocco hosted a women’s conference two years ago that gathered the total of 425 entrepreneur businesses for women from different ages.  These businesses did not only attract younger generations but provided opportunities for divorced women to enhance their family situation and support their kids.  Other presenters talked about women in rural areas and their involvement in elections and illiteracy activities to imprisoned women and youth.

After the presentation ended, Senator Lisa Brown, the leader of the delegations presented the presenters with gifts from Washington as an appreciation of their work and token of our relationship.

We departed to the Al-Akhawayn University in Ifrane (AUI). We drove towards the Middle of the Atlas Mountain for 1.45 hours. The areas were colder and known of its non-stop snow during winter.  Actually it was considered the Switzerland of Morocco.  The buildings were designed beautifully with cathedral ceilings and roofs to endure the snow and allow it to slide down smoothly not causing problems.  The university name means “The 2 brothers university”- the story says that the two brothers are King Fahed- Saudi Arabia King and King Hassan, Morocco’s King.  The university was built as an appreciation of the money gift of $50 million that was given from Saudi Arabia to Morocco to clean up an oil spill that was caused by a Saudi oil Tank.  During that time the wind cleaned up the spill and therefore there was no need to spend the money to clean up the area.  King Hassan of Morocco couldn’t return the gift as it is considered inappropriate in the Middle Eastern culture to return gifts, so he decided to build a university named under both kings to show an appreciation of the relationship of  both countries.

At the university, the group of delegates separated into tow groups to go in a tour of the campus facilities.  The University and Moroccan’s respected religions and there were 3 separate areas for students to pray.  They had a masjid for muslims, a church for christians and a temple for jewish students.  At the Campus we saw a huge swimming pool and workout room, computer center, a stock exchange and -an impressive- Hilary Rodham Clinton Women’s Empowerment Center.  After the tours we gathered in a room for a presentation by student leadership group which consist of 10 female students.  The girls showed a video presentation on what they see themselves doing in 2030.  It was a very impressive presentation as it reflects their imagination on their accomplishment and how the world will look like in their eyes.  As usual, Senator Lisa Brown presented gifts to the group of presenter and the president of the university for their hospitality. 

The group took pictures then we departed to the “Riad Myra” Restaurant and to end the day with a taste of the great Moroccan food and music.

Lubna Mahadeen- Women in the Fes region and services for marganalized women 11-12-2009

Lubna and Connie with Moroccan women at the meeting in Fes.

At the meeting in Fes.

Senator Lisa Brown presenting gifts- meeting in Fes

Meeting in Fes- Senator Lisa Brown, Cathy Allen and translators Kawthar Remo and Layla Safi

Wall wrinting on the school in Fes “God disciplined me and it was the best discipline”

Wall writing “Be beautiful you will see the beauty of existence”

Entrance of Al-Akhawayn University

Al- Akhawayn University Tour- Beautiful Buildings

Another building at the Al-Akhawayn University

Tour at the University from left – Shawna, guide, Lubna, Maryel and Megan

The university housing in the background- Lubna

University meeting- student, Megan McCloskey and Lubna Mahadeen

Unviersity Brief meeting

Lubna Mahadeen and Megan McCloskey with University Students.

University student with Lubna Mahadeen at the Al-Akhawayn university

Autumn Lerner and Lubna Mahadeen with Unversity Students

Dinner at Fes- Riad Myra Restaurant

Duana Kolouskova and Lubna Mahadeen (me) at the restaurant

Dinner at Fes, from left (Maryel Duzan, Dr. Julie Gralow, Duana Kolouskova and Lubna Mahadeen (me)

Dinner with (part of Duana Kolouskova, Lubna Mahadeen, Brittany Beaulieu, Eileen, Concannon, Katarina Bonde and Dr. Denise Kraft.

Lubna Pouring tea the Moroccan way- let the air mingle with the tea- pretty professional

Shauna Woods and Lubna Mahadeen