Moroccan NGOs seek the empowerment of women and youth

2006-06-23

Nourreddine Ayouch is one of the most active participants in Moroccan civil society. In an interview with Magharebia, he discussed his two associations, the Zakoura Foundation and DABA 2007. These organisations aim to empower the women and youth of Morocco, whom Ayouch considers to be the country's future.

By Farah Kinani for Magharebia in Casablanca – 23/06/06

[File] Ayouch believes the future of Morocco depends on its women and youth.

Nourreddine Ayouch is one of Morocco's most active participants in civil society. He established the Zakoura Foundation in 1995 to fight poverty and empower women. Micro-credit allocated by the association has allowed many Moroccan women to start their own projects. Ayouch launched the DABA 2007 association this year to involve Moroccan youths in the political life of the country.

Magharebia: Zakoura began ten years ago. How is it doing today?

Noureddine Ayouch: Zakoura is doing well. Moreover, Morocco has been ranked the top country in the world in issuing micro-credit by the World Bank and the UN.

Zakoura is doing extraordinary work in Morocco. We have 1,150 employees at 765 sites throughout the country. Zakoura not only provides micro-credit, but raises awareness of the importance of fighting corruption, being dignified, respecting women, and voting.

Magharebia: Moroccan women seem to benefit most from Zakoura’s micro-credit. Is this merely a coincidence?

Ayouch: At the start, Zakoura wanted to reach both men and women. But since the first year, we have noticed that our female clients are more serious and show more solidarity. We have therefore decided to devote ourselves more to women, who today are receiving 90 per cent of the micro-credit.

I cannot emphasise enough that women are the future of this country. Our country will truly change the day they are given economic, cultural, social, and political power.

Magharebia: Has women's status benefited from the latest modifications to the Moudawana (family code)?

Ayouch: The changes made to the family code constitute a major shift in the Arab world.

Unfortunately, the Moudawana is still poorly applied, because many habits have not changed. Education and communication are essential to better explain the reasons for this reform.

Magharebia: Speaking of change, is it true Moroccan youth are shunning politics?

Ayouch: A recent survey by L'Economiste found that 92.5 per cent of young Moroccans no longer believe in their country's political parties and no longer think about voting.

The majority of Moroccans continue to criticise political parties, the government and the parliament. This same majority thinks democracy does not exist in Morocco and subsequently refuse to "politicise themselves".

Young people say this, intellectuals repeat it and as a result only 50 per cent of Moroccan people vote. This is not normal. It will take more than time to find solutions and say "I am going to do something for my country; I am going to participate in the political parties instead of denigrating them”.

Every Moroccan should play a role in the political process and no longer be content as a mere spectator. That idea is the focus of DABA 2007.

Magharebia: So what does DABA 2007 do?

Ayouch: We have created three committees. The first prepares young people to engage themselves politically and to vote. The committee will address young people in the Moroccan Arabic dialect as well as in Tamazight.

The second committee addresses the economic and intellectual elite who have "thrown up their hands" and no longer believe in the parliament or political parties.

The third committee will be devoted to understanding the ideologies, political programmes and future visions of political parties. The committee’s mission will be to convince them to create welcome environments for youth and elites and to engage them, instead of allowing parties to withdraw from society. In other words, we must educate Moroccan society.