By Katie Bercegeay | Director of External Relations
On FRÉ Day 2022, the High Atlas Foundation team teamed up with the Mogador Essaouira Cooperative to express what our common partnership surrounding the indelible Argan tree means for the women in the Essaouira region.
Watch the video on YouTube, and follow the English-language translation and transcription below.
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“I recommend that every woman who is passionate and wants to create a cooperative or a small project should be patient and willing.”
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“My message to anyone with a promising idea that seeks to make it a reality is to be patient and determined.”
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[Aziza] “My name is Aziza, President of the Mogador Essaouira Cooperative of Argan Oil Marketing, based in the Mejji commune in the region of Essaouira.
We are working on promoting Argan products in the field of cosmetics and nutrition. All our products are 100% natural-based. Our project has made a fair profit, and we have been able to attract both local and international partners and customers that have rewarded us with positive feedback.
Today, the cooperative has 52 members, all of whom consider this project as their primary source of income. We collaborate with the High Atlas Foundation and FRÉ Skincare. They gave us trees in the form of seedlings, including olives, because the area is known for its olives along with Argan trees.
Over the following year, the cooperative benefited from the Argan trees. We hope that the climate conditions will help us achieve the goal of reaping fruits as quickly as possible.”
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[Khadija] “Hello, my name is Khadija, the finance manager for Mogador Essaouira Cooperative. This cooperative was founded in 2007 and has about 30 members.
The cooperative’s project initially started with only 12 women. Now, we are 30. We work on the marketing of Argan-oil-based cosmetics and food in addition to Amlou and natural soap.
We also have had the support of FRÉ Skincare, which has provided us with a series of workshops on how to improve our marketing of Argan oil and also helped us to understand the e-commerce market. They created the cooperative’s website and also provided us with Argan seedlings to preserve this natural inheritance and increase its productivity.
This partnership has boosted the self-confidence of the women of the cooperative, which has given us a solid will to advance our products to the highest quality.”
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[Aziza] “This project plays a vital role in the lives of the members of the cooperative, especially since this village does not have any jobs for women. Women started to have an income to manage their lives and, in particular, to provide for their children’s school expenses.”
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[Khadija] “The cooperative has had a major impact on the development of women’s lives in the villages.”
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[Yossef] “The partnership with the High Atlas Foundation and FRÉ Skincare is a solid and sustainable partnership that we are consolidating further to build a future through sustainable projects for women and families in Essaouira, Taroudant, Safi, and all Moroccan cities. God bless you.”
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We continue to be excited about this work with women and Argan throughout the Souss Massa region of Morocco and hope that you will continue to support us in these great efforts!
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