Karine and Ahmed Benabadji (Master 1989) are overseeing the construction of a secondary school in Morocco after the earthquake that struck in September 2023 – EDHEC Alumni is a financial contributor
September 2023: a powerful earthquake caused extensive damage in the southern Marrakesh region. Since then, a graduate couple have been overseeing the construction of a secondary school to get the local youths, including many young girls, back into education with the help of financial backers. EDHEC Alumni is one of them.
One year ago, after the earthquake that struck Morocco on 8 September 2023, the EDHEC Alumni Board of Trustees decided to donate 4000 euros to a local association to support the rebuilding project. Morocco is important to EDHEC Alumni: more than 1200 students or graduates are from the country or living there. The board decided to choose Open Village, an association set up by two alumni, Karine and Ahmed Benabadji, who work on "self- development" in villages south of Marrakesh, an area severely affected.
Their plan was to build a secondary school in Timenkar, in the Ourika valley, to replace the facilities destroyed. Work began in November 2023 thanks to donations made and the support of villagers, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education. While waiting for the new school to open, a former structure was used to host the 87 pupils concerned.
The first months were spent preparing the materials needed, all taken from the surrounding area: hand-cut stone and local clay. In April, once the building permit had been secured, the worksite stepped up a gear with the arrival of 40 workers and the erection of the first walls.
In May, construction accelerated with the purchase of timber from a region in the southern Atlas Mountains, to be used for the door and window frames. Local craftsmen, all fathers of the future pupils, continued the work, interrupted by the Aid festival and then the harvest in June.
The focus then shifted to supplying the school with water, with the digging of a well and the subsequent supply of water to the building. It was decided that the EDHEC Alumni donation would fund the entire installation.
In July, a summer university was organised in the 5 main villages, with cultural and artistic events for all the future schoolchildren. This created links with the children, families and villages and got everyone involved in the project.
At the end of September, the classroom walls were erected and the roof was laid. A mini solar power station is planned to meet the school's electricity needs.
The school is not yet fully ready to welcome the 227 pupils who enrolled during the summer, so 3 modular structures have been installed temporarily. The official opening is scheduled for the week of 7 October, with a headmaster, 6 teachers and a general supervisor. A great step towards rebuilding the future of the young people of Ourika.
The refectory, infirmary and teachers' accommodation still need to be tackled. Your contribution will be most welcome, and you can contact the Open Village Association at any time if you would like to find out more.
Make a donation to Open Village*
*Eligible for tax relief
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