Beni-Ourain

Fatima Ait El Hajj

Fatima is a native of Sidi Yahya Ou Youssef. She lives with her two daughters and has two sons who do small construction work in the city of Tetouan. Her husband works multiple small jobs to make ends meet. Fatima learned how to weave, when she got married at the age of 20, from her mother and other young brides. She makes rugs that are specific to her village of Zaouia. She joined the weaver’s association in 2012 to improve her family’s living conditions. Through weaving, she hopes to afford a heart surgery needed to treat her heart condition.

Fatima Mamouh

Born in Tihnda village(2 hours away from Sidi Yahya Ou Youssef), Fatima moved when she got married. They have a small amount of land they use to farm. However, her husband mostly works in other people’s fields in order to make a living. They had three kids, although one died recently at the young age of 17 years old. Her daughter is 7 years old and her son goes to high school in a small nearby city called Tounfite. Due to her poor health, she never worked before joining the association last year in 2019. She sells rugs that her mother taught her how to make. Currently, Fatima lives with her family and parents-in-law. She wishes to help her husband and father-in-law with the home’s expenses. When her financial situation improves,she wants to fix their house’s roof and get better furniture. Additionally, she wants to go on pilgrimage to Mecca. When asked about the future, Fatima hopes both her kids become teachers and that she can travel somewhere new, but where the culture is still similar.