This story begins high in the Atlas Mountains, hearing about the genesis of the EFA. Young children who were unable to cross rivers and rocky slopes to reach classrooms struggled to access even primary school education. Fifteen years ago, the owners of Kasbah du Toubkal and Riad Siwan rented a safe home for a few girls to stay nearer a school, employing a caring housemother to look after them during the school week. This was the start of both our organisation as well as the in-country association.
Many students have mothers who never learned to read or write and were married as young as 12. These girls were offered a chance to break with this vicious cycle of illiteracy and poverty. Marriage is postponed to after they finish studying and they tend to have less children when they do. Some of this new generation have completed their Masters and have qualified as science teachers. One student has started a PhD program in Public Law proofing the power of education can be revolutionising.
According to the The WEF Global Gender Gap Report of 2024, Morocco ranked 5th from last in economic participation of women out of a survey of 146 countries. The labour force participation rate of Moroccan women is significantly lower than men, 19.8% vs 68.3% respectively and they earn 30% less then men. Education is the key tool that can reduce this inequality by empowering women and prepare them to access the job market and become a productive part of the labor force ultimately achieving economic independence.