Cooperative Tiglmamin from Khenifra, Morocco

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.

Naima Achaq

Naima was born in 1972 in Khenifra. She is married and has four children, two daughters and two sons. Naima did not finish her studies but learned how to weave from her mother as well as time spent at the local women’s center. Later on Naima worked at the women’s center assisting other women in the community with various crafts. Naima joined the cooperative as a viable form of work and a means to contribute to household expenses.

Rabha Boulman

Rabha is a 48 year old woman originally from the village of Milwiya, about 35 kilometers from Khenifra. Rabha is married and the mother of three children. Rabha did not study but instead learned how to weave at home. When she married she sold the rugs that she made at the local market. Rabha joined the cooperative as a way to continue to develop her craft, have a viable way to sell her wares and to help with money for her family because her husband is currently unable to work due to illness.

Hbouba Amrous

Hbouba was born in 1969 in the Kabbab area about 35 kilometers away from the city of Khenifra. She is married and has five children. Hbouba learned how to weave at home from her mother. She joined the cooperative because she enjoys weaving and would like to help earn money for household expenses.

Hayat Ousbigh

Hayat was born in 1985, she is married and has two children. Hayat studied in Khenifra and then her family relocated to Agadir for her parents work. While in Agadir her studies stopped because she struggled with the local dialect that was different from her own. Growing up she was exposed to weaving as those in her family were weavers but she didn’t want anything to do with it. Hayat describes how time went on and her idea of weaving changed. Over the years she taught herself how to make rugs and pillowcases, she describes having different ideas and putting them into her work. Hayat joined the cooperative as a way to help her family.

Fatoma Kninzaa

Fatoma was born in 1963 in the suburbs of Khenifra, she is married and the mother of three children. Fatoma learned to weave at home as a young girl but has never been able to earn a living from her weaving. Fatoma joined the cooperative to help her family members in the cooperative and to contribute to household expenses including medical treatment. Fatoma has a dream of someday purchasing a house with the profits from her rugs.

Fatima Ousbigh

Fatima was born in 1956, she is a widow with six children, four boys and two girls. Fatima learned the art of weaving at home from her mother. After she married she learned how to make a special type of hanbel known as the “hasera.” The hasera is made using dried palm leaves that are woven with wool into a truly unique rug, this is very difficult work. She decided to join the cooperative because her children are older and she wants the work. Fatima hopes to share a piece of her culture with the world.

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.

Fadma Amrous

Fadma was born in 1970, she is divorced and the mother of two children. Fadma did not study when she was younger but as an adult has attended literacy classes. She learned to weave at home and spent time at the local women’s center where she learned more about her craft. Fadma is an expert weaver of wedding blankets, known locally as handira or Timizarin, she would sell these at the local market. Fadma joined the cooperative because she needs the money for herself and her children.

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.

Mayssae Ousbigh

Mayssae was born in 1997. She is currently taking classes and planning to take an exam this year to achieve the equivalent of her high school diploma. Mayssae is in charge of maintaining the cooperatives website for Anou, she helps with photography, posts new products, prepares packages for shipping and oversees custom orders. Mayssae is learning how to weave from her family members in the cooperative. Mayssae’s hope is to share the cooperative’s products both nationally and globally.

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.