Tawaya NGO, Our partner for a sustainable future in remote villages of the ATlas

Our social partner Tawaya NGO is playing a big role in developing remote villages of central High Atlas..

Tawaya association was founded to improve the social status of the local population in R’bat village in central high Atlas, and help villagers find new sources of income to improve the lives of their families. In The Atlas mountains, every winter is a challenge and a struggle to properly feed the families and keep them healthy and warm. Tawaya wishes to contribute to social and economic development on all fronts: health, education, architecture, community facilities, training in new professions, improvement of existing techniques, while preserving the environment and the exceptional cultural heritage that is the valley of Ait Bougumez situated at the heart of Unesco Mgoun Geoparc ( site of sublime beauty, a reservoir of water and agricultural land, traditional architecture)

The NGO, created in March 2006, has already carried out important actions in the village. The installation of drinking water in the majority of households, the creation of other sectors of activity such as beekeeping or the construction of a children's center have led to the everyday life of many families. In addition, the members of the association try to propose solutions in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. First, containers were placed in several parts of the village to collect and burn residents' garbage. In addition, in collaboration with the Terre et Humanisme association, training courses in organic farming were offered to villagers. The association also wants to promote the preservation of the traditional adobe habitat in the village, by sensitizing villagers to the disadvantages of new construction materials.  

The newest project is the creation of a women's cooperative to develop the village's economic activity while empowering women. For the moment, this project is awaiting funding and the inhabitants are very motivated to share their know-how.

Tawaya association thus integrates in its approach several objectives such as the economic development of the village, in a thought and reasoned way (setting up new activities, offers of responsible tourism activities, etc.), the development of the village and its heritage, and the development of cultural activities (especially for children). Since 2012, the association attaches great importance to external exchanges by regularly hosting trainees and groups of hikers and promoting the establishment of partnerships with national and international organizations.