Projects
By launching this campaign in four douars in Morocco, GREEN upholds the notion that access to drinking water also facilitates access to education and better health, which are essential elements of sustainable development. These four villages are situated in very different regions and socioeconomic contexts: Zaouit, Karia, Talha and Tighfert.
| Zaouit Sidi El Mekki |
Zaouit Sidi El Mekki is a douar of 750 inhabitants located 35 km from the Casablanca airport, in the rural municipality of Sidi El Mekki in the province of Settat. The underground water there has become brackish due to a lowering of the groundwater level, and is therefore unsuitable for consumption and irrigation. The installation of a drinking fountain at the centre of the douar has already been a significant improvement, but the children are still burdened with water duties. The individual connection to the water mains system for each dwelling will allow new chances for development and will prevent an exodus of young people. The school is located on the outskirts of the douar, one hundred metres from a water tower and barely a few metres from a water main. An internal installation with taps exists but is not connected to the main! This would only cost €800. The absence of water and, above all, the absence of toilet facilities is another reason for the low attendance rates for girls at school.
The absence of toilet facilities in schools represents a serious hindrance to children's education, and in particular that of girls. Several of the schools in douars do not have functional toilet facilities (lack of doors and taps, etc) or do not have toilet facilities at all.
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| In the past.. |
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| The girls used to be responsible for the daily water duties. |
Initially, two drinking fountains connected to the ONEP water mains system provided the douar with water. The drinking fountains are located at the centre of the douar and were open several times during the day (under the surveillance of a guard). Those who lived further from centre therefore had a significant distance to cover several times a day. The transport and preservation conditions were often the cause of health problems. |
During our field visits we saw the deplorable state of the toilet facilities at the school in the douar. The lack of water and doors made the toilet facilities unusable. This situation prevented girls from attending school regularly. |
| Today.. |
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| The population of Zaouit has been relieved of its water duties. |
The homes are supplied with drinking water. The water duties are no longer part of the daily lives of little girls, who are finally able to go to school or to return to school. |
Doors have been installed in the toilet facilities at the school. |
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Drinking water is finally available at the school. |
| Karia |
The douar Karia is located in the rural municipality of Mikkes, in the province of Moulay Yacoub. 150 inhabitants live there without being supplied with drinking water or electricity, and are a long way from health services. It is the last douar in this province which does not benefit from ONEP water services. The inhabitants – especially the children – are often turned away when they go to fetch water in the neighbouring douars. The installation of a public drinking fountain at the centre of the douar will save them a lot of time and energy. The children will be able to go to school once again and the families will develop new trades such as beekeeping and honey production, rabbit farming, needlework, etc.
The Kliaa school has a low attendance rate due to a lack of toilet facilities. Thanks to the donations collected by the pupils at the Institut Saint-Dominique in Scharbeek and by the students involved in Marockeau, toilet facilities are being installed and will be completed very soon. |
| In the past.. |
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| The children doing their water duties. |
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| Ouled Ben Talha |
The douar Ouled Ben Talha is located in the province of Moulay Yacoub, approximately 40 km west of Fez. 4000 people live there, the majority of whom are under the poverty line. They get their drinking water from a public drinking fountain. Many of the children do not go to school and the majority of the population cannot read or write, especially the girls and the women. Talha nevertheless has several assets.
There is one primary school in the douar. Although most of the children attend this school when they are young, as they get older they are forced to abandon their schooling for other activities, namely their water duties.
The inhabitants of Talha will soon get an individual connection to the water system in their houses.
This project is possible, thanks to the collaboration of GREEN with following partners :
- INDH (Initiative Nationale pour le Développement Humain- an initiative created by King Mohammed XI to develop rural zone of Morocco);
- Rotary Clubs in Belgium and Morocco;
- Vlaams Partnerschap voor Water Ontwikkeling;
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Fondation Roi Baudouin.
Because of this collaboration, the village will have access to drinking water through individual branches from September 2010. |
| Tighfert |
| Tighfert is a ksar (a traditional village with adobe houses) located in the municipality of Ferkla Essoufla, in the province of Errachidia. There are three public drinking fountains installed there, but only a small portion of the 2,350 inhabitants use them. A traditional system which brings underground water to the surface, called a khéttara, runs through the village. The water is free but its quality is uncertain. The task of going to the water point or to one of the drinking fountains is the same, but the price of the water at the drinking fountains is 10 DHS per m3 (approximately €1). The individual connection to the water system for each dwelling will be a great relief for the families. There will no longer be any water duties and the price will be four times less than at the drinking fountains (2.5 DHS for the first consumption band), as there will no longer be a guard to pay. A collaboration will be established with a local sociocultural association and the Tighfert school parents' association, in order to involve women and girls in the life and development of the village. |
| In the past.. |
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| The girls in Tighfert are tired of their water duties. |
Researching locations before beginning the works. |
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If you would like to support our projects, you may make your donation by bank transfer into the GREEN Triodos account (523 - 0801901 – 77).
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