Beni Ourain Rug

Halima Aissaoui

Halima Aissaoui from Moulide was born in 1976 and later relocated to Khenifra. Halima is a widow and has three children. Halima completed the third grade and then went on to learn the art of weaving from her mother and through vocational training. Halima joined the cooperative in order to make money to manage the expenses of her home and her children.

Batoul Naatit

Batoul was born in 1972 and grew up in Khenifra. She is married and has two children. Batoul did not attend school but did spend time at the local’s women’s center learning the art of craft. She loves to work with her hands and has been weaving since she was a young child. Batoul is immensely creative, which can be seen in the stories that she weaves into her rugs. According to Batoul, she thinks of an idea and puts it directly into the design of a rug. Batoul’s love of the creative process as well as her desire to help her family financially lead her to become of a member of the cooperative.

Zhour Ousbigh

Zhour was born in 1965, she is married and has four children. Zhour did not study as a child but attended literacy classes at the mosque as an adult. She learned to weave at home from her mother. As a member of the cooperative she hopes to use her earnings to buy a house.

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.