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Addressing societal challenges in the rural region of Essaouira

Renovation of rural schools and building of sociocultural center in Morocco

The Air Liquide Foundation participates in the construction of the Afoulki association's sociocultural center in Essaouira, the development of training workshops for women and the renovation of rural schools in the region.

Our support during the Covid-19 pandemic

AFOULKI directly supports the education of 74 young girls from rural areas of extreme poverty of Essaouira, so that they can go to college, high school and university. With strict lockdown, the families of these girls are in the deepest destitution, especially in terms of hygiene and food. The Air Liquide Foundation is participating in the purchase of food and hygiene products distributed to these families area thanks to Afoulki Maroc's network of 15 volunteers, which provides on-site logistics.

Building a sociocultural centre

Afoulki is a Franco-Moroccan association that was founded in 2003. Afoulki works to address issues such as adult illiteracy and the lack of employment opportunities, in particular for women in the rural region of Essaouira.

In order to tackle these different societal challenges, the association is building a sociocultural centre with the involvement of the Air Liquide Foundation.

One of the objectives of the association is to train women and help them organize themselves collectively as cooperatives in order to improve their socio-economic situation.

The following workshops are dispensed within the centre:

  • literacy classes

  • training workshops for the transformation of local products: tapestry, sewing, soap making, jam and beekeeping

The Centre may one day include a nursery, cultural centres: multimedia centre, library, cinema and a free clinic for better access to healthcare.

Renovation of rural schools in Morocco

Renovation of rural schools in Morocco

Afoulki also works to provide children - especially girls - in rural areas with access to education. The association renovated some thirty schools in the Essaouira province of Morocco. Five of these renovations were carried out with the support of the Air Liquide Foundation.

The Air Liquide Foundation's contribution

The Air Liquide Foundation participates in the construction of the sociocultural centre (purchase of building materials) and the development of the beekeeping activity (purchase of 20 hives and equipment related to the activity).