'The educational complex aims to boost training and capacity building of the region’s women and youth in income- and employment-generating local businesses, as it provides women’s literacy programmes while ensuring preschool education to children, in order to improve the socio-economic integration of women and youth in precarious situation.
The new facility has a unit of tourist information and guidance that works in synergy with other units in the region, especially those of Midelt and Imilchil.
It also includes several centres including one for women’s training and qualification, which houses workshops for pastry, dressmaking, weaving carpets in addition to a day-nursery and a play area for children.
The vocational training centre for young people consists of workshops for wood joinery, agricultural training, a greenhouse, in addition to computer science and literacy rooms.
The complex also includes a showroom and an area to sell local products, as well as reception services through the housing center."
And now for some whining from me...while the complex may sound fantastic, the reality is it is already brewing with corruption. The woman who was appointed (and now in a rather cushily paid position) to teach the young women how to weave...HAS NO IDEA HOW TO WEAVE. Sigh. This is not an isolated case by any means...the King inaugurated many center's during his visit to the region and almost all have unqualified person's collecting paychecks for teaching a course they have no clue about and aren't actually teaching.
The most frustrating part for me is that seeing as the appointed person's aren't qualified and have no idea where to begin, Rabha has been asked to go and teach the women how to use the looms...for free. And seeing as she is such a kind-hearted soul, who gets the concept of volunteerism, thanks to her work with Peace Corps volunteers, she has already agreed to go and help out. Blah. She knows my thoughts on the situation and has promised me her services are only fabor (free) for the initial class...
Okay, enough ranting. You can clearly see my frustration with the situation. Moving onto to more pleasant news...
The week before HM King Mohammed VI came to Tounfite, Rabha received a personal invitation from His Majesty to attend the grand opening of 'The King's Center' in Midelt. During which she got to shake his hand as speak briefly with him. Apparently, after the handshake he pointed to a wooden machine and asked her if she knew what it was...albeit a bit of an arrogant question considering she is the President of a weaving cooperative and the machine was a wool spinner-which was a no brainer for her, she pleased him with her ease of response and he then informed her that he was rewarding Cooperative Chorouk's hard work (which he was aware of because of their affiliation with Peace Corps) with some fabulous gifts...Two 4-meter and one 3- meter metal looms complete with matching benches, a machine that spins the wool, and a maintenance/repair kit for the looms. RESULT.
Now we just have to find a building for the Cooperative. Currently, the looms are in pieces taking up half of Rabha's house. My goal for the month of January is secure a building for the Cooperative. I've decided to take an entourage of Peace Corps Volunteers to the Caid's (Mayor) office in Tounfite and have everyone gush on about what a hardworking, fantastic Cooperative we are and I suppose do a bit of diplomatic begging for a physical building for them. Sounds like a pretty rad plan, eh?
If 'Project Occupy the Caid's Office' doesn't work...I will write a Special Project's Assistance (SPA) grant in the hopes that Peace Corps wants to help us out. Rabha's father has agreed to donate some land for the building space, so that will cover 'in-kind' community contributions for the grant. Ideally however, the Caid will give into our charisma and charm and hand over a building, leaving the SPA grant funds for more equipment for the Cooperative. So finger's crossed everyone.
More good news on the work front...I recently sent an e-mail to twenty-eight stores in the USA who are currently importing Moroccan textiles, in the hope that someone would like our rugs and agree to start importing them. Within two hours of sending the e-mail, I received a most pleasing response. (Call me selfish, go ahead, but I'm not going to name the store on here as I don't want all the other Peace Corps Volunteers stealing my new found glory...) So, XXX Store in San Francisco, liked the pictures, and responded with a detailed order request. The most beautiful part of the whole thing, is that he already has a warehouse in Marrakesh, so we just have to get the carpets there, and he takes care of the actual exporting...splendid, just splendid I tell you!
More to come soon...
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!!!
Miriam xXx
Another interesting blog. Good luck in getting the mayor's help with a building for the Cooperative. Enjoy your time in England. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too. With lots of love, Nana
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