Keeping you up to speed...

Our first attempt at messenger bags...

Mushmina
Our trip to Khenifra back in January was a good one. Heather, owner of Mushmina, purchased a fair amount of bag and pillow samples, which she took to a trade show in New York City the following weekend. I haven't heard from her in regards to how the show went, but her visit with us in Khenifra was very productive. She gave Rabha tons of feedback as to what the ladies are doing well and could possibly do better. Fingers crossed this will turn out to be the relationship the cooperative needs in order to keep selling once I finish up, which is in less than a year.

Marche Maroc Marrakech
As always Marche Maroc was a success, just not in a sustainable way. Our sales were consistent with previous Marche Maroc numbers and whilst only a temporary sales outlet, it keeps the ladies motivated to keep working hard. We had one non-Peace Corps related sale and it was one of our large carpets, so that keeps me motivated knowing that there are buyers out there!

Peace Corps Volunteers
Emma, my site mate, had to return home due to a family emergency and is now on 'Interruption of Service'. This status means that she has one year to request to come back to Morocco and finish her service.

And in the beginning of May; Moses, Max, Patrick, Sara-Robyn and Roxy will all finish their service. Good for them and sad for me as they are my friends in the region and so I will be all alone in Tounfite once they go. Max is the only volunteer who will be replaced. His site is Boumia, the next town over from me and has an active Dar Chebab (Youth Center).

In March, 160 new volunteers will arrive in Morocco and all of them will be Youth Development volunteers. Sadly, I don't think Tounfite will be getting any new volunteers for a long time, our Dar Chebab is inactive (due to corruption) and with all programs except for youth development closing down, there isn't much hope for our little town.

 On The Horizon...


Occupy the Caid's Office
It's been rather difficult to occupy the Caid's office as every time I go there, he isn't there. Not one to give up, I did the opposite and stepped my game up. Earlier this week, Rabha and I made a trip to Midelt where we went to the office of the regional Governor. His secretary took our name and numbers and we are now awaiting a phone call for a formal appointment...walk in's weren't happening. Nevertheless, we will meet with him soon, and hopefully a building for the cooperative will materialize in the next few months.

Weaving School in Boumia 
Bill, the volunteer in Midelt, has been working on developing a small weaving school for young women in Boumia. Boumia has the largest population of prostitutes in all of Morocco, so the idea is to give the at-risk women another option for work. The school will open on a trial basis in the beginning of March. My role will be to train the school's secretary on administrative tasks. There will initially be two training courses, one that begins in March and another in mid-April. Each course has 32 sessions varying from the local history of weaving, natural dying, to marketing and business skills. Rabha will teach the natural dye sessions. If everything goes well and the Ministry of Artisana is pleased the school will become a permanent fixture in Boumia.

Natural Dye Workshop in Souk L'Hdd
Rabha will be teaching a natural dye workshop over the first weekend of March, in Souk L'Hdd. Souk L'Hdd is fairly close to Ait Hamza, so I will be making a visit to Hafida and family either before or after the workshop. Haven't seen them in ages, so looking forward to that visit.

World Connect Grant Proposal-Spinning Wheels for Cooperative Chorouk
I wrote my first grant last week and it turned out to be far less painful than I had expected. The grant is a request for funds to purchase to spinning wheels for our cooperative. This will save the women heaps of time as they currently hand spin the wool, which takes ages and is very labor intensive. Another volunteer, four hours away from here, also wrote a grant which includes training on how to use the wheels. Rabha and I will travel to Baknou in May to attend the training. Then Rabha will be able to return back to Tounfite and share her new knowledge with the women of Cooperative Chorouk. Fingers crossed the grant is funded.

International Women's Day
March 8th is International Women's Day. I am going to host a tea party for the women of the Cooperative Chorouk during which we will watch the film "You Can Dream: Stories of Moroccan Women Who Do" which is a short film designed to empower women in rural areas of Morocco. A previous Peace Corps Volunteer made the film, which highlights the lives of several women who are currently transforming not only their own lives, but their entire community.

Marche Maroc Fes
The next Marche Maroc is tentatively scheduled for April 19th-24th and will be in Fes.