Boucherouite Rug

Rkiya Ait Addi

Rkiya is 63 years old. She is originally from Itzer, she moved to Ait Yahya Oualla once she got married. Like many women her age she is not formally educated and spent most of her days learning how to weave from her mother. After giving birth to her two children she stopped weaving. She no longer had the energy to keep up with household work and taking care of the kids. It wasn’t until she joined Arkhbil Sewing and Weaving Cooperative that she found renewed energy. In the early morning you can hear the sounds of Rkiya pounding away at the loom. She is the first one to arrive at the cooperative and the last one to leave. Selling her products keeps Rkiya energized and excited about weaving.

Khadija Mahamdi

In 2015, Khadija's husband died leaving her with two children, a boy and a girl. After middle school, Khadija married young and spent all her time at home. In 2017 she became involved in the local Association to learn how to sew and weave as well as build self confidence to be able to support her children financially. After receiving a diploma in sewing and weaving, Khadija and a group of women decided to start their very own sewing and weaving cooperative, Arkhbil Sewing and Weaving Cooperative. Khadija’s confidence grows every day with her work at the cooperative and selling her products is helping her greatly to support her family.