South With Open Arms

Being a feminist and a muslim at the same time is question that starts to being asked and making people opening new conversations of an other level.

Here, it’s Islam we are talking about, and the stories and history I heard about it say that Islam came to gave women all their rights of having a respectful life and getting her away from men’s rules which are neglecting and making her passive.

Islam was the new era when the new births, girls, were being barry once she comes to life, why? Because getting a girl not a boy is an embarrassing for a man and it’s touching it’s dignity and honor. Islam came when the women doesn’t have the right to go out, learn, fight or even being independent, an a change maker, because there are lot of stories of women who fought with the prophet in important battles, teaching and and producing for their communities.

As we all know, women, the in the Arab world, have been suffering from neglection of being creative in their communities and societies, that’s why, to get their rights and being productive, women created the feminist movement which is basically based on creating associations and organizations, set goals and methods to conduct the changes they are believing in and getting positions.

This movement got birth at a certain time when a woman’s right of education, work, and ability to be a change maker has been taken from her while she has all the right to make decisions how, when and where she wants to.

Women’s movement actually have lost people’s trust these days because of rumors that say that they are looking for getting freedom of the religion, in a society that has all the trust in the religion and considers it the reference in case of any confusion about anything, so when you come and say that the women has the right to do whatever she wants to especially without getting a permission to people who don’t have a such thinking, how do you suppose to being trustworthy when you are saying and trying to convince with unexisted ideas in their lives and minds.

Personally, I do not consider me as a feminist, 

On Monday, we shared our culture with a group of children at a park as part of a community service project. The students were a bit shy to talk to us because they didn’t know us, so we had to build their trust by encouraging them to ask us anything they want.

Two kids made the task easy by starting a conversation with us about our countries and our lives. Benny, 11 and Beyonce, 13, asked if we had malls, cars and cell phones.

We told them that our countries have such things and that we’re no different and have lot of similarities with America in terms of development.

Beyonce asked Ahmed, from Egypt, “do you live in the pyramids?’’

 “Of course not, ” Ahmed responded. “Pyramids are historical buildings that our first grandparents built and lived in them. “ We also have houses like yours, apartments, cars…”

Later, some other kids joined the conversation and got more comfortable with us. The children are quite talented. Mohammad ,10, is from Afghanistan. He speaks seven languages. Benny raps. He showed us some of his rap songs. Some girls sing and dance.

We also played volley ball with the children. It didn’t feel much like community service because I enjoyed every moment of it. Before heading to campus, we gathered in a circle to discuss our experience. We all agreed that we enjoyed our time and would like to come back.

In Morocco, the community service is not a big part of our culture. There are some individuals and groups that volunteer in youth centers, with kids with disabilities and other programs. But I didn’t grow up encouraged to do community service.

I remember one time me and some students from my university volunteered at Bassma, an association that takes care of abandoned children.

At the time, I didn’t realize it was community service. This American experience actually changed my perspective.

On Friday, I went to the mosque for afternoon prayer, shortly after lunch. This was an important moment for me because it proved to me that everyone

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With Nancy Wyman, the lieutenant governor of Connecticut, during our visit to the Conneticut Supreme Court and the State Legislature.

I really had a lot of fun touring Walmart, America’s major department store where you can find just about anything, food, clothes, household furnishings and much more.

Walmart reminds me of Marjane in some of the major cities in Morocco.

We spent about an hour there, browsing the ailes and trying to see what items we could afford for ourselves or our families back home.

I bought a lovely dress for my three-year-old sister, Ishraq , a dress for myself and toilet freshner.

On the bus ride to Walmart, each of us sang our national anthem. Turkish,Tunisian, Algerian, Sudanese. This is the most amazing experience I’ve ever had. We are all from different countries and we had no problem fitting in with each other.

When we returned to campus, we played volley ball, a sport I used to play in high school.

Our training on social entrepreneurship began on Monday at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, home of the “Huskies.”. I am one of 60 people from South African, North Africa and Turkey participating in the

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It was hard saying goodbye to my family in Ouarzazate on Thursday night. I almost missed my 10 p.m. bus to Rabat because we had a hard time finding a taxi to the bus station from my neighborhood in El Hay Mohammadi.

At about 9:20 p.m., my mom got nervous that I would miss the bus so she tried to stop some motorists to take us to the bus station, but no one would stop. Twenty minutes before the bus was scheduled to leave, a cab showed up. 

A taxi pulled up 20 minutes before the bus was scheduled to leave. My father raced from his job about two hours away to say goodbye. He arrived around 9:50 p.m.

My parents reminded me many times to take care of myself. “Be careful. Pay attention.”
My mom was trying not to cry, but she couldn’t hide her emotions. I couldn’t stop kissing my three-year-old sister, Ishraq, who was crying because she wanted to go with me.

On trips to Rabat, I usually travel with my friend Soukaina Bouihi, who is in America now on a Women’s Leadership program at the University of Kansas. But Thursday, my brother, Safoine, he is 18, was my seat mate.

In four days I’ll realize my lifelong dream of going to America. This once-in-a lifetime experience will take me to Storrs, Connecticut, where I will spend five weeks on an American educational exchange program. 

I will be participating in the Study of the

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This morning, I took my little sister to the clinic of Tasoumat in Ouarzazate because she had pimples all over her body.

We waited for the doctor for more than an hour. Suddenly, she showed up yelling that the couldn’t see

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I was inspired by the people in two stories I shot in Kalaat Mgouna this week for Ouarzazate e-News. I and a team of reporters traveled to Kalaat Mgouna to do stories on two artisans who are heading to America to display their crafts at

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tanks to Abdel Moula Mdiouani for the article, really like it…Hope that I’ll come back from America with lot of new things that will allow me to be a changemaker in my community and to make a difference…

http://www.ouarzazate-enews.com/english/?p=387

By Hafssa Ait Tabamoute and Soukaina Bouihi

Melanne Verveer, United States ambassador-at-large for Global Women’s Issues, on Sunday remembered the Ouarzazate girl whose father was so proud of his daughter’s participation in an education program she visited over a decade ago.
“And he was right there, learning with her, too,’’ Verveer said at Dar America in Casablanca during a discussion on women empowerment with Global Girl Media Morocco. Global Girl Media is an international program which encourages young women from disadvantage backgrounds to get involved in citizen journalism.
Verveer visited Ouarzazate with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her tenure as first lady in 1999. Verveer served as Clinton’s chief of staff.
Sunday, Verveer recalled the story of the Ouarzazate girl to underscore the importance of educating girls and women so they can become equal participants in local and global issues.
Morocco is one of five Arab countries Verveer is visiting this week to discuss ways to advance women’s empowerment and political and economic participation. She’s also visiting Tunisia, Jordan, Libya and Egypt.
Educating girls is the key to women’s advancement, she said. Girls are at a disadvantage because they often drop out of school, are the victims of violence, war and forced into early marriage, she said.
“The educated girl,’’ she said, is the single most effective way to empower women.
“ Women bring perspectives that are vital to many issues,’’ she said. “Many issues in the world today will not be addressed without women.’’
After their discussion, the Global Girls interviewed Verveer about a range of issues affecting women including the Arab Spring, women in politics in Morocco and how the three women Nobel Prize winners can use their platform to advance the cause of women in the world.
Verveer expressed doubts about the Arab Spring’s impact on women.
” I don’t think it’s an Arab spring, but an Arab winter because women are still pushed away to bring the change, especially in Yemen and Libya,’’ she said. “But I think that Tunisian women are making the change, and it’s moving forward.”
Changing people’s mindset is one way to address the challenges facing women, she said. Verveer cited Global Girl Media as an example of a program that is changing perceptions.
The U.S. State Department launched the Global Girl Media program in Morocco last September when 48 young women from all across Morocco learned how to blog, shoot and edit videos and use social media to give voice to women’s issues.
Global Girls are reporting on women’s issues in Ouarzazate, Safi, Tetaoun, Tangier, Rabat and Marrakesh. 
Verveer watched video clips of some of the girls’ work. She saw their reporting on the parliamentary elections, the role of women in cinema and the story of Amina Filali, the 16-year-old girl who committed suicide after she was forced to marry her rapist.
“You are making a real contribution to the Moroccan society,’’ Verveer told the young women. “What you are reporting is better than what the mass media is reporting. You are talking about the role of young people, you are talking about a tragedy in this country, you’re touching on real issues.’’
The Global Girls said Verveer inspired them to think about how much power and influence they have in changing their society. The young women said they are part of the Moroccan youth who want to make a difference.
Racha El Addar, who reports from Tetouan, told Verveer that six months ago she and her peers were just ordinary Moroccan girls. Today, they are behind the camera, talking about important issues affecting Moroccan women.
“Meeting Ms. Verveer was one of the best opportunities that I had in my life,’’ El Addar said. “Yesterday was an unforgettable day for all the Global Girls.’’

ШАБЛОНЫ САЙТОВ ОНЛАЙН-МАГАЗИНЫ
ФАЙЛОВЫЕ МЕНЕДЖЕРЫ JOOMLA

By: Hafssa Ait Tabamoute and Soukaina Bouihi

Twenty-four students from Ouarzazate high schools are participating in a six-week program designed to teach them how to become leaders.Generation Leaders Training Program, an association that began training youth leaders three years ago, organized the program to help young people develop leadership skills, so they can address some of the negative perceptions about their communities. Organizers have planned workshops for six Sundays, starting March 18. The program will end May 6.The goal  is to prepare a generation of “positive leaders,’’ Mohamed Ait Aha, the association’s president said during Saturday’s opening ceremony at the Congress Palace in Ouarzazate. Participants were picked from a pool of 198 applicants. They were selected based on their leadership experience in school and the community,

he said.“We’re not only here to give them examples of leadership, but to also make them live the experience of leadership,’’ Ait Aha said The students were among 50 people at the event where organizers displayed a slide show on the program’s past activities, and discussed its impact on young people. Over the next six weeks, participants will attend leadership workshops and take field trips to local associations where they will learn how to raise awareness about the work of social associations.Abdessamad Alioua, a student at Ibn Al Haitam Technical high school, said he is participating in the program because he wants to learn how to create positive ideas for the associations he works for. Alioua works as a trainer for youth camps and is involved in several associations.Hajar Elkad, 15, signed up for the program when her English teacher recommended it.“You have to show motivation and a will to change yourself and your society in order to be selected,’’ she said.The first two trainings were successful because the students bonded quickly and were excited about working with each other.Ayadi Mohamed, 19, of Tinghir, participated in the program two years ago. The program inspired him to create Youth Voice, an association which organizes educational activities for young people.“Without the program, I wouldn’t have the courage to do what I did,’’ he said.

By: Ouarzazate e-news stuff

A year after he returned from an leadership exchange program in America, Mohamed Ait Baha created Generation Leaders, a program which teaches young people to be leaders in their community.“This experience was an eye-opener,’’Ait Baha said about of his visit to America in 2006 on the Middle East Partnership Initiative.“It opened doors for me.  I had a sense of direction. I knew the person I should become. I had potential that I didn’t know I had. MEPI made me understand myself more others better.’’Ait Baha was among 15 Moroccan professionals who shared their experience today at the Congress Palace during Alumni Day, an event sponsored by the U.S. Embassy.

The event was an opportunity for Moroccans who have participated in U.S. exchange programs to share their experiences and learn how to apply for grants and other programs to develop projects and expand existing ones. Moroccans who will be participating in U.S. Exchange programs this summer also participated in the event.

High School students who are involved in the English Access programs also learned about exchange programs for young people.The event seeks to connect alumni of U.S. Exchange programs with each other and give U.S. Embassy staff an opportunity to see what people are doing in their communities after they returned from the United States, said Matthew Long, cultural affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy. Participants came from Tinghir, Errachidia, Zagora and Ouarzazate.

”The purpose of the exchange program is to change people’s points view about America,’’ he said. “We choose people who see themselves as leaders.’’

Every year, about 150 to 200 Moroccans participate in U.S. exchange programs, said Dominique Benbrahim, cultural affairs specialist at the U.S. Embassy. Some of the programs include Fulbright, MEPI, Girls Tech, Women’s Tech, Between the Lines, International Visitors Leadership Program, Near East South Asia Undergraduate Exchange Program, and Student for United States Internship and Space Camp.

Since 1953, three of the 28 Moroccans who have participated in the Fulbright Exchange program are from Ouarzazate, said Oussama El Addouli, coordinator and outreach director of the Moroccan Exchange Commission for Educational and Cultural Exchange.Fulbright program provides scholarships for Moroccan students to pursue master’s and doctoral programs in America. Americans also come to Morocco to teach at universities or conduct research projects.

There are two Fulbright teaching assistant at Faculty Polydisciplinaire de Ouarzazate (Ibn Zohr).The United States Embassy continues to provide teaching assistants at the faculty, said Hanane Darhour, director of the English department at the faculty.“The coordination between Morocco and America is a good way to empower our relationship,’’ said Hanane Darhour, director of the English department at the faculty. “This exchange helps the faculty to be more popular in America and make it more powerful.’’

Sghiri Zoubir, of Errachidia, visited the United States on an International Visitors  Program last year. During his visit, he toured eight states including Washington, D.C., New Mexico, Miami and Virginia.

“This program changed my whole life, personally and professionally,’’ said Zoubir, an Arabic high school teacher. “I learned that time is money and that you have to be committed to what you are doing.’’

Souad Benmassaoud, 37, communication coordinator at Democratic League of Women’s Rights in Ouarzazate, learned about domestic violence services when she participated in the International Visitors Program in 2010.The program took her on a tour of police departments, rehabilitation programs for men who abuse women and agencies working on domestic violence issues.“I found myself in this program,’’ she said. “This is what I want to learn.’’

Manal Elattir, 29, of Rabat, participated in the Fortune Mentoring for Women in Business program in 2010. After the program, she created Anarouz Association, a program which helps women artisans’ find markets for their products.Elattir said she was inspired by the women she met in America as well as the Moroccan women she began working with after she returned home.“Some people are modest, timid and afraid about their abilities, but we have to be brave and try to bring change using our capacity and abilities,’’ she said. “To value the power in you, you can’t be afraid of your power, but embrace it and try to bring change.’’

Majida Chahid, 46, went to America in 2006 on a program to learn about women empowerment. The program inspired her to get involved in politics. Today, she is a councilor in  Tinzoulin in Zagora Province. She is also director of a women’s rights organization.

Ouafa Abba, 25, an engineer with ORNV Agricole (Office Regionale de Mise en Valeur Agricole), is going to the U.S. on the International Visitors Program in the summer. She hopes to learn new skills to improve herself.“Life gives us lots of opportunities, and it’s not enough to accept those opportunities,’’ she said. “But we have to act and take the initiative.’’

This article was written by: Rihame Al haiane, Hafssa Ait Tabamoute, Soukaina Bouihi, Sara Errajy and Abdel Moula Mdiouani

March 2, 2012. A Ouarazazte Faculty student has produced an innovative video-program called “FPO Invite”. In its debut show, FPO Invite interviewed Naceur Oujri, the president of the Syndicate of Secondary Actors.Today, FPO Invite held its second show, in which they interviewed the Moroccan actor, director, and film-maker Driss Roukh. This interview was a part of a program dedicated to Driss, with the previous day’s show presenting Roukh’s film called Happy End; after which, a Faculty student and Driss debated on the different concepts and techniques of the film. Fatim Zahra Najib, a Faculty student and one of the program’s organizers said, “This is a good experience for us because it gives additional value to Faculty. As one of the organizers, I can say that we have faced a lot of difficulties, but we have gained good times preparing for this.” Hamza Errachidi, the founder of the program said, “As a student at Faculty, when we want to do extra training outside of school, we find that nobody knows about us. They only know about the Institute of Cinema. Since the cinema industry doesn’t know about us, and it can’t come to us, we decided to bring them to us by hosting cinema people. This will make Faculty more known.” Many Faculty students are aware of FPO Invite, and have suggestions and comments about this new program. One student named Abdel Karim Charafi stated that, “what I really liked about this program is that the team is comprised of students from all departments. And this benefits all cinema students, as well as other students in other departments.” Mohamed Elamghouze, another student at Faculty said, “This is a great initiative and it’s well organized, but I want to see other people who have other specialties, not just cinema people.” While a student named Aissam Grouh commented that, “this is a good initiative and it will help, for sure, making Faculty well known, especially with those stars who come to Ouarzazate and those who will come in the future.” Errachidi acknowledges the different perspectives of Faculty students and stated, “The main goal of this show is to make Faculty more known. So, we can definitely host other people outside of the field of cinema, especially since I see the enthusiasm of students. Observing this makes me think that we can help other departments by making other shows to host other people.” However, for now the program has focused on the works of cinematic individuals. At the end of the today’s program, Driss Roukh addressed all emerging students of cinema and stated that he wished people understood and appreciated cinema because, as an actor, he has had to sacrifice much of his life for his love of film and has observed both positive and negative aspects of it. Roukh ended the show’s program with the most important aspects cinema students should consider with their work: Love, Honesty, and Fulfillment. By: Hafssa Ait Tabamoute

After the big success of the second version of “ Meetings Under the Tent”, The third one continues this year under the theme of “Meetings of the third Type”(Rencontres du 3eme type). During this event , the participation of 400 participants approximately is expected ; students, directors, professionals of cinema…, from 18 national and foreign schools coming from Toulouse, France, Montreal, Mauritania, Spain, Lebanon , Tetouan, Raba, Casa Blanca, and the Faculty of Ouarzazate.

The initiative is taken by the ISMC of Ouarzazate-OFPPT (Institut Superieur dans les Metiers de Cinema), and the peoples in charge of this event are convinced that these meetings are a big opportunity for their students to show their works and talents , especially to Moroccan and foreign schools.
In this three days, the participants will be able to share their experiences in cinematographic field throughout various activities scheduled for this occasion. Moroccan and foreign trainees will participate in artistic and technique workshops. Five teams will make a film in three days under the guidance of professional filmmakers. Foreign participants will present their productions at the Congress Palace of Ouarzazate as well . It’s a unique opportunity where to see a multitude of exercises showing the progress happened in cinema. Finally , seven partnership agreements will be signed between national and foreign schools in order to develop a partnership in the educational, cultural exchanges between film schools in the world.
To conclude these meetings, there will be a show presenting the work done by trainees of decor and accessories, costumes and dressing, hair and makeup departments.

Ouarzazate’s residents will join Moroccans in cities nationwide this weekend in celebrating the first anniversary of the Arab Spring, the revolutionary wave of demonstrations that began in Tunisia and spread to Egypt and Libya, resulting in the fall of the governments in those countries. 
In Morocco, the protests are centered largely around unemployment, workers’ rights and benefits and the lack of educational opportunities for youth. 
The demonstrations are organized by the February 20 Movement. The group got its name from the day the wave of demonstrations began across the Arab world, fueled largely by young people using social media to spread their message for social change, justice and equality.
Siham Moulay, 32, has never participated in the demonstrations, but she said she supports the movement because of its advocacy for jobs, better wages for workers and educational opportunities for young people.
Moulay said she has a degree in computer science, but has no job.
Ouarzazate’s anniversary celebration is planned for 3 p.m. Sunday in Elaamala. Events planned for the day include a play, a musical show and a film presentation. Organizers plan to show,” My Makhzen and Me”, a documentary film by Nadir Bouhmouch, a Moroccan student who lives in America, said Abdellatif Taleby, 23, a member of the movement. Bouhmouch was visiting Morocco during the height of the Arab Spring revolution last spring.
Taleby said he joined the movement because he believes in its principles. The movement, has inspired people to take to the streets and demand their rights, he said.
”This could make Moroccan people break their fear and make them talk about what they want to change,” he said.
Aissam Qodouss, 20, a student at Ibn Zohr University, said the one-year anniversary celebration of the Arab Spring will remind the government that it needs to begin addressing the issues affecting youth.
Kawtar Moudoud, 29, a housewife, has never participated in the marches, but supports the group’s right to gather to demand their rights.
The government, she said, is paying attention to the young people because some people have found jobs.The February 20 Movement, she said, wants to help all Moroccans.
“If they achieve their demands, they are not the only ones who are going to benefit,” she said. “All of Morocco will benefit. These rights are ours in the end.”
Youth who led the movement selected February 20 as a day of dignity and freedom, according to a statement from the local organization. The first local march took place Feb.20, 2011 in front of Elaamalla and ended at Elmaouhidine Square. 
After that, marches and protests were held throughout the city every month. Demonstrations were held in Tabount and other neighborhoods in Ouarzazate including Sidi Daoud and Ait Khadif. The demonstrations attracted more than 2500 people.
While the movement seems to have a lot of followers, there are some people who disagree with its mission.
Amine Ramdani, 21, a student at the University of Ibn Zohr in Ouarzazate, is one of them.
Ramdani said the movement is not unified and some of its demands are unreasonable. Some young people, he said, are demanding jobs, but they are not qualified for most jobs.
“If I was well qualified, I’ll find a job in a second,” he said.
Badr Eddine Elmaki said he disagrees with the movement’s principle that the government is responsible for every problem in Morocco.
“The government should not take the responsibility of everybody,” he said.

By: Hafssa Ait Tabamoute and Soukaina Bouihi 

Aicha Qassem, 48, never learned to read and write because there was no school in Jamaat Ben Izouli, the village in Zagoura Province where she grew up.

Back then, girls were barred from attending school outside their village.

Qassem went on to get married and have her own children—-seven daughters, ranging from 10 to 28. But she always wanted to read and write.
When Qassem heard that a literacy class for women opened up at El Farabi Madrassa in El Hay Mohamadi, she signed up. She’s one of 30 women who are learning Arabic as well as learning about women’s rights.
The class, which began last November, was created by Collective Associations in Ouarzazate’s Ouad Edahab’s neighborhood to reduce illiteracy and educate women about their rights and issues that affect them. The association runs literacy classes in schools across Ouarzazate.
Kheira Farih, one of the teachers at the school, said women are learning about their role in society, Al Moudawana, domestic violence, marriage and health issues. The goal is to help women improve their lives and give them confidence in their ability to change their lives. The classes are held twice a week, 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday and Friday. 
The number of people enrolled in literacy programs nationwide has increased from 286,000 in 2003 to 700,000 in 2011, Farih said. Women make up 80 percent of the people enrolled in adult literacy programs, she said. Participants don’t pay because the program is fully funded by the government, she said.

Saida Ait Yehia, 36, said she regrets dropping out of middle school at 13. She left school, she said, because her friend dropped out.
“If I was educated, I would be able to help my kids with their studies,’’ said Ait Yehia, who enrolled in the class two months ago. “I’m advising young girls not to drop out of school because this is going to help them now and in the future.’’

Qassem is glad that she now knows how to write her name. The women are also learning to read simple sentences and study the Quran.
Jamila Ouaali, 25, dropped out in fourth grade.
“My best friend dropped out of school, so I did the same thing,’’ said Ouaali, who has a three-year-old son. “My family didn’t say anything.’’
Aanaya Falih, 71, enrolled in the class because she wants to learn to read the Quran. There was no school in Tidili, where she grew up. She went to the mosque for religion class. 
Most of her education was at home where she learned to cook, spin wool and make carpets.
Khadija Zoubair, 37, wants to attend the literacy classes but she can’t because she has a new born. Zoubair left school at 14 to get married. She regrets that decision.
“I wish my children could achieve what I didn’t achieve,’’ said Zoubair, who has four children, ranging from nine months to 18.
Two weeks ago, the women at the literacy class took their first exam. The exam included writing simple sentences and reading passages from the Quran.
Farih said the women’s reading improved in the last two months. She feels like they’re making progress.
“The exam was good,’’ Qassem said. “It was all about what we learned in the last two months. The teacher wanted to assess the outcome of her effort, and Hamdullah, she’s proud of us.’’

By Hafssa Ait Tabamout

The Editing of an Associative Project was sponsored by LDDF( League Democratic for Women’s Rights) and EPA (Space for the Future).
The goal of the training was to help associations develop creative ways to increase their capacity and strengthen the leadership skills of their members, said Amina Ait Abderrahmane, (who is she).Participants learned how to develop a project and implement it. 
Bouchra Ait Hssaine, a participants and member of EPA, said she liked the training becase it was informative. She said she learned some association members don’t know how to present their projects and seek financial help to do them.
“Now the problem is removed and we are ready to do more activities and projects,” she said.

By: Hafssa Ait Tabamoute

By: Hafssa Ait Tabamoute

For nearly three years, Sabir Hassan has been sleeping in a make-shift tent in front of the shuttered Bélère Hotel where he worked for 20 years as a receptionist.
Hassan and 10 other workers have been camping outside the Ouarzazate hotel to protest the owners’ failure to pay their back salaries after the hotel closed June 9, 2009. Hassan was among 111 employees who lost their jobs. Some employees found temporary jobs, but others are still unemployed.
Hassan, 57, said he showed up for work on June 9, 2009, and was surprised when his boss him that there was no work.
“The doors were closed, so  we couldn’t go inside,’’ he said one day last week while sitting under his tent playing cards with other workers.
Besides camping outside the hotel, the workers have been marching through city streets with other unemployed workers to advocate for jobs. They also gather outside concerts and other major events in the city to voice their concerns.
Every night, three of four former employees sleep under the tents. The workers have turned the front of the hotel into a home. They have pots, pans, dinner table and water cans. They create fire to prepare meals and make tea.
The hotel closed a year after the death of its owner, Berkach Abdel Fattah, said Ben Nacer Ismaili, of CDT, La Confederation Democratique du Travail, the local affiliate which advocates for workers. When the hotel closed, the workers had not been paid for eight months, Nacer Ismaili said.
 Abdel Fattah’s wife, Fatima Sabar, owns 75 percent of the hotel and shareholders own the remaining 25 percent, he said. Ouarzazate e-News was unable to reach Sabar or her lawyer.
The workers began camping outside the hotel when the owners refused to pay their salary arrears. After some discussion, the workers received a portion of their salaries, but the owners refused to pay the rest. The 111 workers are owed about 250 million dirhams, Nacer Ismaili said.
In the last three years, the workers have tried to seek help from authorities.
Jamal El Mazouiqui, another former employee, said workers took their case to the Court of First Instance and the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court in Rabat. The Supreme Court ruled in the workers’ favor, but the law has not been enforced, he said.
“We are going to sit here until we get our rights back, even if it’s forever,” said El Mazouiqui, who supervised employees at Bélère Hotel   for 16 years. He said he hasn’t been able to find work.
El Mazouiqui, 42, a father of three including a new born, said his relatives in Marrakesh help him support his family.
Modnib Ahmed, who worked in housekeeping for 20 years, said the hotel had been struggling for several months before it closed.  There were times when the hotel was empty for many weeks, he said.
“If someone called to reserve a room, they tell them that the hotel is full,’’ he said. “From this, we figured out that there was a problem and that it will affect us.’’
 Ahmed, 58, said he hasn’t been able to find a job. He relies on relatives and neighbors to feed his two wives and four children.
Hassan, a father of three, lives in Aghan with his wife and three children. He said he relies on neighbors to feed his family.
“Life gets harder after losing your job,’’ he said. “It’s hard to feed one person, and it’s really harder to have the responsibility of the whole family.’’

Al Moouahidine square is full of crowds tonight, people are celebrating the amazigh new year. The celebration is organised by the Moroccan Association for Research and Cultural Exchange (AMREC). 
The treasurer of the association, AL HASSAN AILHANOU said that this celebration means to show the amazigh culture and how they celebrate their new year with a great attachment to the soil they live in.
Many artists and bands will animate the concert such as: Gnaoua tinghir , Aissaoua , Errabie Gnaoua sidi daoud , Insaf and others …
The celebration is not just artistic,” we are preparing traditional amazigh food that people make especially for new year like: Tarwayt and Talkhcha , and audience will have the pleasure to taste that natural traditional meal “ said AL HASSAN .
AL HASSANE AILHANOU who organised this concert hopes that this new year will be the end of many problems that ouarzazate have suffered from especially the grand and small taxis problem who affected Ouarzazis people.
EL HOUSSAINE AIT LAHCEN , a future teacher was in the audience , he said that this celebration was a great initiative but there was a lack of organisation and the organisers should give more chances for youth and new faces .
Finally everyone is wishing for a better tomorrow.

Reported by :
Rihame AL HAIANE.
Hafssa AIT TABAMOUTE.

There’s a shortage of butagas in the Ouarzazate area because of a workers at the gas plant are on strike, according to store owners who sell Buta. Several store owners in the area said they’re out of butagas and many women have complained that they have to go to four or five shops before they can find a tank of gas. 
Without butagas, most families can’t cook or bake bread.
Rokaya Tahir supports her family on the bread she bakes and sells at the hanut. She’s worried that she won’t be able to find gas when her tank runs out in a few days.
“This will affect my life because I’m the one who takes care of the family, ”said Rokaya, whose husband is unemployed.
Said Montasire, a store owner who sells Alhay Imohamadi, said the workers’ strike is causing problems for business people who sell butagas. Many of his customers have to go elsewhere because all he has are empty tanks. This report was filed by Hafssa Ait Tabamoute and Abdelmoula Mdiouani.

Residents in Tarmight are concerned about robbery, drug dealing and prostitution. On Saturday, about 200 people gathered at the taxistand to raise awareness about the problem. Some residents reported that they were harassed and robbed at knifepoint.Burglars also broke into three stores. 
Residents say gendarmes patrol the streets, but there’s no station in Tabount, so the gendarmes are slow in responding to calls. 
“We’re demanding that the authorities do their job to protect citizens and their properties,’’ said Mohamed Haouzan, president of Space for Family and Childhood, one of the association that organized the event. 
The event was attended by members of Fadaa Osra Oua Tofola, Nassije Elfial Etanmaoui and Jamiyat Maaoui Chabab.

Small taxi drivers staged a sit-in at noon Saturday near the Center of Regional Security to protest the big taxi drivers decisioon to begin picking up fares in the city.

Fatima Outghratine was thrilled that she could take a five-dirham taxi ride from Tabount to the souq in Ouarzazate on Sunday.

Before the small taxis began striking Dec. 21, Outghratine, a mother of six, had to take a big taxi to Ouarzazate and either walk or take a four-dirham  small taxi to the souq, about  four kilometers away.
Outghratine said she supports the big taxi drivers’ decision to work in Ouarzazate.
“I hope it will stay this way because they’re taking us from here (Tabount) to the souq for five dirhams, and that’s great,’’ she said.
The feud between the big and small taxis began three weeks ago when grand taxi drivers began picking up fares in Ouarzazate.
By law, the grand taxis are required to work outside Ouarzazate, but they decided to move into the city because they said they don’t make money working primarily in Tabount and other areas.
The small taxi drivers protested by pulling their 181 fleet of taxis off the streets and blocking major intersections in the city, primarily at noon and 6 p.m. every day.
The big taxi drivers took advantage of the situation and began picking up fares in Ouarzazate and nearby areas including Aid Kadif, Tamassinte and Ihay Imohamady.
 Elyamani Hamid, who drives a big taxi, said big taxis don’t make much money to support their family by just working in Tabount.
“We just want our right of working, nothing else,’’ he said.  “We hope the small drivers will understand the need to work together and eventually end the strike.’’
By not working, the small taxi drivers are hurting their families, he said.
But the small taxi drivers said they will not end the strike until they obtain their exclusive rights to work in the city. The big taxi drivers have no right to work in Ouarzazate, said Mhamdi Abesalam, general secretary of the syndicate of small taxis in Ouarzazate.
Small taxis have lost nearly 30,000 dirhams in the last three weeks, he said Saturday during a noon-time demonstration near the Centre of Regional Security, where more than a dozen small taxis blocked the street.
       Last week, the vice minister of interior and some security officials met with big taxi drivers, but the issue is still not resolved, Abesalam said.
 Small taxi drivers, he said, will continue their strike until they achieve their rights.
Abesalam said some small taxi drivers have been threatened with knives, but local authorities have done nothing about it. Some big taxi drivers have also complained that people throw rocks at their cars when they drive through certain neighborhoods.
Some big taxi drivers say it’s tough working in other cities such as Marrakesh, Tinghir and Kelaat Mgouna because they always have to wait their turn to fill up.
The number of big taxis working in Ouarzazate has increased from 120 to 300 in the last two years, said Mohamed Moussa, who drives a big taxi.
 The majority of those taxis were working between Ouarzazate region, Tinghir and Marrakesh, he said. The growing number of taxis working in the region makes business tough for Ouarzazate drivers, he said.
The big taxi drivers said they had no choice, but to begin picking up fares in the city of Ouarzazate.
The strike is taking a toll on residents because there’s not enough taxis on the streets, so some people end up walking everywhere.  Some big taxi drivers are not familiar with city neighborhoods. They often refuse to take some passengers to certain areas.
Some residents prefer the big taxis because they are cheaper. Grand taxis charge three dirhams during the day and four dirhams at night, the same fare they charge for the trip between Tabount and Ouarzazate.
Zineb Laghfiri, who lives in Lirak, said she hopes the strike ends soon because she’s tired of waiting for big taxis to fill six seats before they take her certain places. Before the strike, Laghfiri said she took four small taxis a day to the center.
Now, she is sometimes late for some appointments because she has to wait for big taxi to fill up.
Khalid Elhafidy, who lives in Douar Chams neighborhood, said he’s often late for work at CLA Studio in Tamassinte because the big taxi drivers won’t take one passenger to the area. They want to fill six seats, he said.
“The situation is not only affecting the small taxi drivers, but it’s affecting us,’’ he said.
Nazha Amri prefers the grand taxis because it’s cheaper——three dirhams compared to four dirhams for a small taxi. Before the strike, small taxi drivers charged doubled to take her to Ihay Imohamady.
“Before this problem started between the grand taxis and the petit taxis, I was taking the petit taxi because I had to,’’ she said. “But now I take the grand taxi because it’s better.’’
Hafssa Ait Tabamoute, Soukaina Bouihi, Hassan Ouyahia, Mohammed Lokouz and Abdelmoula Mdiouani contributed to this report.

Petit taxi drivers in Ouarzazate resumed their strike today. The drivers went on strike Tuesday because grand taxi drivers who work in Tabount want to begin working in the city. Tuesday, the petit taxis refused to pick up passenger and blocked several streets, so grand taxi drivers began picking up local fares. The petit taxis returned to work on Wednesday, but they went on strike again today. Every stop and intersection in Ouarzazate was blocked today around 6 p.m. Petit cab drivers parked there cars in the middle of the street to show their disatisfaction over the decision to allow grand taxi drivers to work in the city. This update was filed by Mohammed Lakouz, of Ouarzazate e-News.

http://lahcenchaib.maktoobblog.com/471/%D8%B1%D9%81%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%87%D9%85%D9%85-%D9%88%D8%A8%D9%84%D9%88%D8%BA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%85%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84/

 Students at Ouarzazate’s Ibn Zohr University have been striking for about four days now because of the lack of adequate buses and educational materials and resources. The students boycotted classes and exams until the university respond to their demands for science laboratory, sports facilities, a mosque and other demands. 

Everyday students have been standing in front of the university talking about their demands. The gathering is held from 8 a.m. to noon and from 2 to 6 p.m untill their demands are achieved

Students of the IBN ZOHR university decides to strike Monday 12th 2011 against the campany of transportation , as a result of the drastic accident that one of the students had last Friday, where he felt off the bus while it was moving because the bus’s door was open.

A poll conducted by the Institute of “LMS-CSA” to 
“Actual” declared that more than 82 per cent of Moroccans 
Give their confidence to the new Prime Minister Abdul 
Ilah Benkirane, the Secretary General of “the Justice and Development Party”.

 In Ouarzazate, the U.S. Peace Corps has planned an event in Saturday December the 3th , in collaboration with Dar Chabab Hassan II , The event began at 4 p.m  with words from all organisers that encouraged the audience  to know more about SIDA and the requirement of being pretected from it  . Those speeches were folowed by a compitition of 3 theatr bands , in two of those bands , the members were children .after that two members of the SIDA club in Dar chabab gave an informational session about the disease, how it distroys the System Almanaotai, how it trasfroms from a person to an other , they also gave some statistiques in morocco that showed that women are more infected then men , they finished their session with informing the audience about the available Treatments and some advices about protection . the event continued with anouncing the winner of the comptition that were chidren from school in IDLSAN. a village near ouarzazate .Mustapha ELGHAZI a teacher in that school explained to me how the children prepared the play  in one week only, and some of the challenges facing the band that just started after a training about theatr organised by an international association called « ASSOCIATION GENERATION OF INTERNATIONAL WORKCAMP » . « those kids are very talented by they need financial and moral support to take their  band to the next level »Mustapha said  . after that the audience enjoyed a candlelightning in shape of SIDA  signe in the dark , it was such an remarkbale view . the event ended at 8 p.m with music and having some « HALWA » , cake and soda .

Modesty had never been a weakness

ihssane from the group legacy she was so amazign the way that she speaks 

Ihsan Muhammad (Vocals)
Was born June 24, 1977. She is a profound singer/songwriter, lyricist and poet. One of the members in group legacy is her brother. She incorporates a street-smart persona on stage, spreading her ideas of love and urban philosophy through her hip hop; soul, Senegalese, and R&B inspired vocals. 
abdelmola: how did you find people who come here to participate in this work shop?
Ihsan : One, there are so many talented here. I’m excited how naturally every one dance and sing they have beautiful voice. For me I didn’t find any problem concerning communication it’s very easy to communicate with them because they are open and they love music universal.
abdelmola: Aside from this work shop, what other things are you currently working on and plan to do in the future?
Ihsan: Well, as I have said, I am a singer/songwriter, lyricist and poet and. That means that I am always working. I am now working on a bi-coastal tour to promote green sustainability and the New Green Economy to urban communities in America. 

abdelmola: what is the difference between your group and the other groups?
Ihsan: the first thing is that I’m with my brother in the same group and what we Sets us apart from other groups that we do songs of jazz and hip hop …I’m the only women in the group legacy so i have to make sure that everything is ok .

By: Abdel Moula Mdiouani

Legacy, an American hip-hop group, is coming to Southern Morocco this weekend to perform and conduct music workshops for aspiring hip hop artists in the region.
The group, which was selected as part of the United States State Department’s Rhythm Road 2011-2012 cultural exchange program, will perform at Hotel de La Ville in Errachidia 6 p.m. Friday. At 10 a.m. Saturday, the group will do a music workshop at the Dar Chabab Medina.
After the workshop, the group will head to Ouarzazate. At 10 a.m. Sunday, the group will meet with youth and do a music workshop at Dar Chabab Hassan Teni. Later, Legacy will perform at 6 p.m. in El-Mouahidine Square in downtown Ouarzazate.
Legacy, which is based in East Orange, New Jersey, is among 10 American bands selected to perform in 40 countries as part of an effort to present a positive image of America.
The group writes songs about faith, love, struggle and the pursuit of beauty in life. The group’s music is largely influenced by a variety of music genres including West African percussive music, house, jazz and break-beat, according to a press release from the U.S. Embassy. For more information about Legacy, click on the link below: 

http://www.jalc.org/TheRoad/ bands/2011/legacy.asp

Hafssa Ait Tabamoute

A family advocacy group kicked off a three-day training, the first was a conference to discuss the role of social media in promoting social change in Arabic World, and the two other day will includ a workshop about Radion, one about TV and one about wrotten news.

The group, Space of the Family and Childhood(فضاء الأسرة والطفولة), organized the event to examine how Facebook, Google, Youtube and other social media forums reported on some of the sweeping changes that were going on in Tunisia, Egypt and other parts of the Arab World last spring. The theme of the conference is “Social Media: Breaking Restrictions of Freedom of Expression. Organizers said Skype can also be used for people around the world to keep in touch with each other about social issues.  

Social Media” has broken all the barriers to make its place to be one of the important tools to spread news’’ said a participant at the event, held at the Municipal Palace in Ouarzazate Center. The event continues from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Abu Bakkar Feedek College in Tabount. 

         

Hefssa Ait Tabamoute 

Ouarzazate témoin le jeudi dernier une remarquable soirée, c’était le premier jour du Festival   International ‘’Azalay’’, la performance c’est commencée à la place de  ELMOUAHIDINE qui a accueilli quelques groupes locaux de rap musique, un DJ puis un groupe local traditionnel qui fait  du ‘’Ahouache’’, un spectacle amusant mérite d’être regardé.

Le deuxième spectacle a eu lieu dans la Kasbah de Taourirt, plusieurs personnes 
sont venus pour voir ce qui est différent dans ce festival. Le spectacle a commencé avec un groupe local «OUARZAZATE GNAOUA »qui a été fondé en 2005. Les membres
essayent d’amener la musique Gnaoua plus célèbre. «Nous sommes si chanceux d’être ici aujourd’hui, et d’être des participants dans une telle occasion», un membre du groupe disait.

Le public avait une autre rencontre avec un groupe africain qui a secoué la scène et a rappelé le public de certains chansons les plus inoubliables de notre temps, le groupe s’appel  «M’brouk fusion», leur musique faisait un merveilleux spectacle. 

le plaisir du festival continuait avec un artiste qui avait une voix unique, c’était «Mouloud Meskioui» qui a commencé à chanter depuis son enfance . il est venu d’Errachidia à Ouarzazate pour donner une valeur ajoutée au festival avec une voix et un style supplémentaires.

Le dernier spectacle était avec un artiste très célèbre qui a toujours aimé la musique Africaine et  travailé pour lui rendre du respect, c’était Ismaïl Lo qui a changé le niveau de la nuit et brûlé la scène par ses chansons.

 

      Hafssa Ait Tabamoute

If you visit the Moroccan South for the first time, you will certainly be surprised from all sides: the radiant sun, the wind is angry sometimes but is also often caressing, the adorable and generous people, and the time which doesn’t pass quickly.

In this article, you are going to discover a special thing about the South of Morocco, especially in Ouarzazate; it’s the “Kasbah”.

For those who don’t know the meaning of the “Kasbah”, it’s a building where the people who defend the city live, as well as the Pasha of the city. The “Kasbah” is a very specific building and its’ system of living is different. It is known by community life which is organized by the system of defense.

Ouarzazate is one of the important cities in Morocco which is known by “Kasbahs”. “Ait Ben Haddou” is one of the most important “Kasbahs” there. This “Kasbah” was built in the 12^th century by the Almoravids. It was a center of security and dominance, but time after time lost its role and became a center of poor people especially the Amazigh.

The “Kasbah” of Ait Ben Haddou is 30kms away from Ouarzazate, and it is built on a little mountain. To get there you must cross a river and have fun while jumping on large sand bags as a bridge.

Around it there is a large wall and two big doors which used to be opened and closed at fixed hours. The families don’t live there anymore because of many reasons, such as being too far away from schools, hospitals, stores and the like.

On your way to the “Kasbah” and while you are climbing the mountain, you will find some talented youth in painting, and this will give you a moment to discover their adorable work and their fascinating drawing. At the same time you will  be able to rest, especially those who don’t practice sports.

By the way, Ait Ben Haddou was classified as a World Heritage Site in 1987 by UNESCO, in order to save it from destruction and to keep it for the next generations.

Also, the “Kasbah” of Taourirte, represents one of the major “Kasbahs” in Ouarzazate too. Taourirte was built on a hill in the center of the city. Its doors are always opened for those who like to pass a while in the past, and have a moment to live a different life.

Thami Leglaoui, an ancient pasha, was the one who thought about rebuilding the “Kasbah” in the 20^th century to make it the center of dominance in the whole south regions. This “Kasbah” is a national heritage, and one of the most visited monuments in the south.

So, don’t ever hesitate to visit those “Kasbahs” as well as others such as the “Kasbah” of Tifoultoute, and share with us an unforgettable moment which will give you a chance to travel from the present to the past.

By: Hafssa Ait Tabamoute

Pendant le 22, le 23 et le 24 Juillet de l’année courante Boumaln a reçu encore une fois la 3eme édition du festival « Tighrmatin N’Dades ». Le festival a connu la présence de l’aimable groupe Amazigh « Saghru Band ». Le groupe a été fondé en 2005 et c’est les membres du groupe qui ont fondé « la chanson Amazigh engagée ».Puisque les deux frères de l’équipe Mbarke Oualarbi –qui est mort cette année- et Khalid Oualarbi sont d’une famille qui aimait de la music et créait des poèmes en Amazigh, ils ont bénéficié de cela pour donner à leur travail un gout personnel qui est aimé par tout les Amazigh. Le groupe a publié 4 albums, le1er est nommé «Mouha », et il a été publié en 2007. Concernant les thèmes des chansons, ils disent, ce sont évidemment de la réalité et qui transmettent des messages au peuple afin de construire un vrai contact avec ceux qui veulent le changement. Les membres de l’équipe sont les responsables de la rédaction des paroles jusqu’à la diffusion de l’album. Pour l’enregistrement des chansons ils utilisent un studio dans leur maison, mais souvent le studio de M. Mellal à Ouarzazate. Et bien sur le groupe a participé dans plusieurs festivals et soirées en plusieurs villes au Maroc comme en de hors du pays, et nous citons : à Bejaia en Algérie, à Las Palmas, en Suisse et dernièrement en Italie. Le groupe est parmi nombreux groupes Amazighs qui se considèrent comme des ambassadeurs de leur culture Berbère, l’objectif est de se connecter avec la culture universelle de tout le monde ! En fin, le groupe souhaite d’inspirer les gens partout dans le monde, non pas seulement les Amazigh, pour apprendre connaitre cette onirique et ce beau pays d’une manière différente.

By: Hafssa Ait Tabamounte, Aissam Qoudoss.

Interview by:  Hafssa Ait Tabamounte, Aissam Qoudoss,Soukaina Bouihi, Hassan Oyahya, Abde lkarim Charafi.

Maureen Sieh is an American, but she was born in Liberia. She was a reporter and editor at The Post-Standard newspaper in Syracuse, New York for 16 years. She moved to the United States in 1990 to do a master’s degree in journalism. 

She was one of the eight journalists who benefited from the Journalism Fellowship administered by the International Center of Journalism in 2008.

She decided to take early retirement and join the U.S Peace Corps as a youth development volunteer. In Ouarzazate, Morocco, she is helping talented and ambitious youth - especially those in the South—-more specifically the girls - achieve their dreams.

She teaches English at two Dar Chababs and Oxigene, an association that provides literacy, job training and other social services for women.

Three weeks ago, Maureen organized a four-day day Chabab journalism training workshop in collaboration with the Moroccan Association of Teachers of English and the Youth Center under the theme of : ‘’Youth In The Media: A Force For Social Change’’.

She inspires me because she is a strong example on an independent woman who made her way inorder to make her voice heard. And she is sharing her journalism experience with those who need such help.

 By: Hafssa Ait Tabamoute