Kasbah Tamadot
Project #1
Asni Creche is a community facility providing a free-of-charge, pre-school activity center for 550 young boys and girls living in remote Berber communities in the high Atlas Mountains of Morocco.
The Creche helps the children to socialize, play together, and start to learn Arabic and French. These languages are commonly used in Morocco but not always familiar to the Berber-speaking children.
Asni Creche needs a regular supply of learning materials, toys, and fun activities to ensure more children can benefit in the future.
Project #2
Asni is a gateway for many travelers to the higher Atlas Mountains in Morocco. Asni has a large comprehensive secondary school, however transportation to the school from the mountain villages is very limited and as a result, many young students, particularly girls living in more remote villages, are dropping out of education.
To tackle the increasing challenge of access to education among young girls in the region, a project was developed to build a central boarding house in Asni for up to 100 girls from ages 13 through 18 years old so that they can attend school and continue their studies.
Thanks to the Asni Boarding House for Girls, girls are able to complete their Baccalaureate, have greater employment opportunities, and some girls are even able to go on to further education, however the house is over-enrolled and there is an urgent need for items to help sustain the project for the future.
Project #3
The Eve Branson Foundation develops community craft houses and vocational training programs for 70 young women in the high Atlas villages of Morocco.
Women are trained by professional multilingual tutors to speak English and French, to embroider and knit, and to create high-quality artisan products from which they can generate a small income.
Each craft house requires a regular supply of materials and resources so that more young women can participate in the future and become economically self-sufficient.
Project #4
Berber communities are encouraged to build preschools and nurseries in the remote villages of the High Atlas Mountains, where children can thrive in a caring and stimulating environment. However, this is often with minimal financial support and limited resources to run activities and maintain the projects.
The Eve Branson Foundation recognizes that many poorer preschool-aged children in these villages are missing out on essential early years developmental play and stimulation due to a lack of even basic materials such as pencils and paper. Providing a good start for hundreds of children in these first formative years is crucial to a child’s future educational success and development. Preschools in Imskar and Tansghart are now in urgent need of a variety of stimulated learning materials and playtime resources.
Initiatives Supported
Listed on this page are the specific needs requested by the community project(s) so you can choose exactly what to pack for a purpose and express your gratitude to the local community with the supplies you take them. If you prefer, you may reach out directly to them to inquire about items which may be available for purchase locally. Arranging visits to community projects is beyond the scope of our mission. If you wish to visit a project, contact the participant and they can let you know what is possible.
Candy and balloons are not on the needs list as they are harmful for the children and the environment for the following reasons:
• Few of the children benefiting from these projects have access to toothpaste, toothbrushes, or a dentist. The candy promotes cavities.
• The balloons once they become deflated are a choking hazard for local wildlife.
Instead of taking candy or balloons, use that space for additional requested supplies, as they are priceless.
