Saida
Unable to find a job after graduating, Saida decided to join a local co-op and put her skills to use. Upon entering this organization, she was quick to realize that many of the women had not finished school and were unaware of the possibility that laid dormant within their craft. Saida rose to the occasion, taking on management and leadership positions within the group, and dreamt big... continue reading.
Assiya
Assiya has always loved to learn; school was her favorite place in the world and, more than anything, she wanted to be a teacher. Naturally, when forced to stop her education, she was devastated -- Assiya felt as though she was missing a key part of who she was... continue reading.
Rquia
Rquia has always been fascinated by the world of handicrafts, particularly the traditionally male-centric field of leather work. Unintimidated by the industry’s lack of women, Rquia was determined to learn what it meant to be a leatherworker and sought a mentor in her community... continue reading.
Doha
Having originally worked for an Italian furniture and home decor company, Doha was accustomed to a fast-paced, high-end work environment. However, when the founder of the company fell ill, her whole world came crumbling down as his business went bankrupt and she was left unemployed with two mouths to feed... continue reading.
Naima
Like many women in the more impoverished areas of Morocco, Naima was forced to drop out of school in 5th grade. However, even as a tenacious 10 year-old, Naima knew this wasn’t the path for her. She begged her family to let her work instead and eventually started learning the art of handicraft from her mother... continue reading.
Rashida
Rashida created the first female pottery co-op in all of Morocco. Traditionally a field dominated by men, this was no small feat and wrought plenty of its own challenges but Rashida persisted. Not having finished school, she taught herself the intricacies of the craft by watching her sister and promised herself to never let her lack of education limit her potential... continue reading.
Atika
When Atika decided to tend to her children as a stay-at-home mother, she also dedicated herself to supporting her husband as he pursued his dreams as an entrepreneur. Ultimately, his business aspirations fell through and they decided together to redirect this entrepreneurial spirit into Atika’s craft... continue reading.
Hafida
The mother of eight children, Hafida has a patience known to very few. However, upon realizing the craft of weaving mendil was dying, this patience wore thin. The traditional fabric of the north, the mendil holds a special place in Hafida’s heart as a symbol of her culture; she refused to let its significance fade without a fight... continue reading.
Fouzia
Formerly a member of an NGO that sought to aid disadvantaged women, it did not take much for Fouzia to see the importance in providing women with their own income. She started teaching a few girls in her community to sew soon after and eventually founded the co-op to start selling their creations... continue reading.
