Latest news

EFA welcomes the Australian Ambassador
September 2024

We were honoured to welcome Michael Cutts, the Australian Ambassador, to our AEFA house in Ouirgane! The Direct Aid Program has generously supported the re-opening of the Ouirgane house and we were grateful to welcome HE the Ambassador who wanted to see the impact of the programme in person and meet the young girls supported by the AEFA.

The visit to AEFA was also featured in the Moroccan press and several news outlets.

Le Matin
» Read article (in French)

» Read Le Matin article in English

Supported by the Australian Government’s Direct Assistance Program (DAP), this initiative is part of Australia’s commitment to supporting girls’ education in remote areas of the High Atlas. To learn about the situation on the ground, the Australian Embassy in Morocco made an official visit to the Ouirgane house. According to the Australian Ambassador to Morocco, Michael Cutts, “one year after the Al Haouz earthquake, it is essential that we continue to support these initiatives that enable these young girls to continue their education despite the challenges.

For her part, the CEO of Education For All (EFA), Samira Govers El Hachioui, said that Australia’s support was instrumental in providing the girls with a safe space to study. “After the earthquake, our needs have changed, but our mission remains the same: to ensure access to education for young girls in rural areas.” The Australian funding has enabled the purchase of mattresses and furniture, creating an environment conducive to school life. Founded in 2007, the charity Education For All Morocco facilitates access to education for girls from remote villages, providing them with safe accommodation near colleges, breaking down economic and geographical barriers.

Thanks to EFA and its partners, education is at the heart of a profound change in mentalities in the remote regions of the High Atlas. This transformation is particularly evident in families who, once reluctant, are now sending their daughters to school with renewed commitment.

Girls’ education in these rural areas was often limited by economic and cultural constraints. Families, faced with daily challenges, sometimes saw education as an inaccessible luxury rather than a necessity.

However, support from civil society has helped to reverse this perception. Families, once sceptical, have become active agents of change. “We see every day how education transforms the lives of these young girls. They are gaining confidence, and their families are becoming aware of the importance of education for the future of the community. The change in mentalities is striking: parents now insist on the need to educate their daughters and recognize the value of their education,” says Latifa Aliza, head of the Ouirgane House for EFA school girls. Despite the challenges encountered since the 2023 earthquake, the Education For All boarding house in Ouirgane has not only supported young students, but above all demonstrated the tangible benefits that education can offer. This type of initiative changes mentalities about the role of women in their community.

Al Aoula TV
» Watch article on YouTube (in Arabic)

2024 Graduation Results

We are extremely happy to be able to announce that all our 26 Baccalaureate candidates passed their exams! This is an extraordinary 100% success rate, especially considering the challenging start of the year. We are so proud of them and happy for them and their parents! Needless to say, we are very thankful for all the support they received from the housemothers and all of our supporters who make our work possible.

Updates from EFA! June 2024

As the school year is coming to a close we are reflecting on what has been one of the most difficult years in the EFA Association's history. The school year had a brutal start and the students in the region who had just recovered from the COVID-19 disruptions were yet again facing a tumultuous academic year. This final exam period we wish them all the luck and fortitude to get through this closing period and we hope to be able to report back on positive graduation results for all students in their final year!

Happy Holidays and lots of Gratitude from EFA. December 2023

As the year comes to a close, we wanted to send you our best wishes for 2024, and our thanks for all your support in 2023.

Navigating Challenges, Building Hope. November 2023

"I wasn’t prepared for the sadness that came over me when visiting our boarding houses in the High Atlas last week. I have spent so much time at the houses over the last 10 years. They hold happy memories and have been a beacon of hope and progress for girls in the High Atlas region..."

From Crisis to Hope. October 2023

The previous month was challenging for EFA and the people of the High Atlas of Morocco. However, in this addition, we will be sharing some positive stories as well as updates on the current situation following the earthquake.

Earthquake strikes at the heart of EFA
September 2023

During the late hours of Friday 8 September, a 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck the High Atlas Mountain region south of Marrakech. The epicentre was close to the area in which Education For All operates six girls’ boarding houses...Our boarding houses have all been badly damaged.