Beni Ourain Rug

Aicha Khenifar

Aicha is 27 years old, she is married with one son. Aicha did not want to study. She grew up outside of Khenifra and learned to weave at home. When she married she relocated to Khenifra. Aicha enjoys weaving and she wants to work which is why she joined the cooperative. With the earnings from her rugs she hopes to help her family.

Rachida Ousbigh

Rachiha was born in 1988 in Khenifra, she has two brothers and one sister. She has the equivalent of an eleventh grade education. When she decided to stop her studies she pursued her creative endeavors via jewelry making. She started her work with the Women's Cooperative of Khenifra in 2008, making handmade jellaba button jewelry. In Rachida’s words, her work as an artisan has opened up doors to the world. Rachida has worked closely with various Peace Corps Volunteers through the years and has had the opportunity to travel twice to the United States to participate in international arts festivals. Rachida started working as an Anou artisan leader in August of 2017 and during her time with Anou the seeds for Cooperative Tiglmamin were planted. Rachida is the current president of the cooperative and the beating heart of this family group. Rachida hopes to increase the opportunities not only for herself but for her cooperative through weaving. She would like to share the products and traditions from their region with people around the world.

Mlouda Amrous

Mlouda is 52 years old, she is married and the mother for four children. Mlouda did not attend school but learned the craft of weaving from her mother and grandmother which gave birth to a love of weaving. The craft disappeared for a number of years and was not a viable way to make a living. With the start of her family’s cooperative she has the opportunity to work, create and share this traditional industry both nationally and internationally.