Association Zaouia · Sidi Yahya Ou Youssef
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
SIZE
2m 68cm x 1m 40cm x 1cm — 8ft 10in x 4ft 7in x 1in
WEIGHT
9030 g
MATERIALS
Cotton Thread, Wool , and Spindle
PRODUCT ID
#2169
The Beni-Ourain rug is used daily in the lives of local Moroccans. They are used for everything from bed covers to simple living room rugs. They can also be used for special occasions, like weddings. It is said that the women transfer their feelings into these rugs while crafting them.
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MEET THE MAKERS
Hanou Abbou
Hanou was born in Ait Amar Aghdou. When she got married, she moved to Sidi Yahya Ou Youssef with her husband. Now a widow, she has seven children, four of which are married. Hanou earns her income from different small jobs, and allowance from her kids. Despite joining the association when it opened in 2011, she still struggles to make a living due to the low percentage of sales. She learned how to weave, like most women, from her mom. She specializes in making everyday rugs, and traditional Handira rugs. She hopes one day, her craft will allow her to make a decent living to afford electricity and furniture for her home.
Hadda Oubba
Born in Abou Adil, Hadda moved to Sidi Yahya when she got married. Along with Haddaโs weaving, her husband works multiple small jobs to provide for their 9 kids. Her oldest daughter is married, her second oldest daughter dropped out of school after completing middle school, and the rest of her children are going to school, or will be attending in the coming years. Hadda prefers the weaving style of Beni-Ourain so she can also focus on taking care of her 4 toddlers. Through her weaving, she hopes to be able to afford school supplies for her children, keep them in school, and move to a bigger city to provide better futures for them. She has dreams of visiting the beach and the desert someday.
VISIT THE VILLAGE
Association Zaouia hosts visitors in their village — share tea, watch the artisans at work, and see the craft up close. Visits start at $17 per person, and most of it goes straight to the group.
Sidi Yahya Ou Youssef, Morocco · about 4 hours from Fez
