Women's Cooperative of Khenifra from Khenifra, Morocco

Fatima Nouaman

Fatima, a Khenifra native, has been sewing and embroidering for much of her life. Fatima has a strong sense of color and design and can always be found critiquing and improving other association members’ work so the association as a whole improves. Fatima is currently working to become as skilled with computers as she is with sewing and is well on her way.

Fadma Chafik

When Fadma was young, she and her family moved from a small rural village to the town of Khenifra. It was here that she met her husband, who is now a retired security guard. She and her husband have six kids – two of whom are married. While she has one grandchild, she secretly hopes that she’ll have four more grandchildren soon!

Saadia Oukas

Saadia moved to Khenifra when she married her husband years ago. She and her husband, a fruit and vegetable seller at the local market, have five children. Because she is not educated herself, she has made it a point to enroll all of her children in school. Of the children that are grown up, one works as a seamstress and another plays for a semi-professional soccer team that travels throughout Morocco. With the money she earns from her sales, she’ll invest it in her children and contribute it towards household needs.

Zhour El Kabach

Zhour grew up and lived in a village outside of Khenifra. When her kids started working and studying in Khenifra, she and her husband decided to move closer to them and left their home village. Zhour now supports her family through her jewelry sales because her husband retired from logging after injuring his arm on the job. In the future, Zhour hopes that her children will lead successful lives and that she will be able to go on a Hajj (an Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca).

Aicha Oukhalak

Aicha Oukhlak was born in the northern Moroccan city of Sefrou, a short distance from the Imperial city of Fez. When her husband retired from the military several years ago, they decided to move to Khenifra – his hometown. Together, they have three children who are all grown up and are expecting grandchildren. Aicha now spends her time either at the association or creating new products to sell in her home. Aicha adores the association as it gives her a chance to meet with other women and provide much needed income.

Malika Azzani

Malika was born and raised in Khenifra and has lived in the town her entire life. She is currently studying in high school and is preparing for baccalaureate, the final test to complete high school. Malika learned how to sew from women in Khenifra as well as the other women in the association. With the money she earns from her sales, she hopes she’ll be able to support her ailing mother.

Samira Blkas

Samira was born in a village just outside of Khenifra. Samira previously worked as a seamstress and transferred her skills to the association when it began in 2008. She and her husband, a day laborer, have one boy. With the money she generates from her sales, she hopes to support her small growing family and contribute to household expenses.

Hafida

When Hafida was young, she and her family moved from a small village to Khenifra in order to be in a bigger town. Once in Khenifra, she began school and studied until high school and loved taking science courses. Outside of school, she learned how to sew and also took part in a government sponsored sewing class in 2004. Her desire to learn has not waned as she one day hopes to speak fluent French. With the sales she earns, she hopes to feed her wanderlust for travel and one day make it around the world.

Malika Fakir

Malika was born in the southern desert town of Errachidia. When her husband found work in construction in the town of Khenifra, they packed their things and moved and have lived in the Middle Atlas town ever since. Together they have two children who are both in school. She plans to save her future earnings so she can one day have enough to open her own small business.

Malika Amrou

Malika grew up in the northern Moroccan city of Meknes and returned to her father’s hometown of Khenifra after he retired. While she stopped attending school at the sixth grade, her desire to learn has not. She hopes that she will one day learn multiple languages so she can travel and meet people all throughout the world. In addition to this, she hopes she’ll be able to build her business skills so she can sell countries all over the world and speak to tourists at Moroccan craft fairs that are held throughout the country.

Rachida Ousbigh

Rachida is one of the few women in the cooperative who completed high school. Her persistence in finishing her education shows throughout her work, as she is not afraid to try and learn new things. Because of this, she has grown into one of the associations leaders and will help lead the association into the future. Rachida lives in Khenifra with her mom, sister, two brothers and her dad, who supports the family as a truck driver. With the sales Rachida earns, she hopes to take a trip to famous Moroccan city of Tangier and use the rest to start her own sewing or bakery shop.

Latifa Ouldae

Latifa was born and raised in Khenifra. She hopes to use her profits and new skills learned from working with the cooperative to become an independent businesswoman.