RAJA KHAYRAT

Marrakech- Dar Moustaqbel provides shelters to girls living in villages and rural areas to continue their education at university in Marrakech.

In an interview with NuJINHA, Najat Outgardi, general supervisor of Dar Moustaqbel, said, “The Moustaqbel Foundation was founded by Hanneke Ouwehand-Van Hooff in 2016. Many restoration and rehabilitation works were carried out to host female students living in villages and rural areas, especially those whose families cannot effort to provide a shelter for them or cover their education expenses.”

Dar Moustaqbel provides shelter to 54 female students from Al Haouz, Essaouira, Ouarzazate, Rehamna, Tinghir, Tata and Safi. It provides a safe home, meals, a library and all the materials to female students. “Dar Moustaqbel strives to give disadvantaged girls from Moroccan rural areas an equal opportunity to pursue further education,” said Najat Outgardi. “They sleep, eat, study and participate in lessons provided by us and activities.”

The selection process

Speaking about the selection process, she said, “Only students with a good plan and a track record that proves their commitment to their careers, in addition to a weak financial position, are selected.”

‘Girls should be given the chance’

One of the main goals of Dar Moustaqbel is to support girls living in villages and rural areas so that they can continue their education. “Many girls have to drop out of school due to financial difficulties faced by their families. Girls should be given the chance to prove themselves. A number of female students receiving support from us are now doctors, engineers and economists.”

They share their experiences with students

In addition to providing a safe home to female students, Dar Moustaqbel support students for their careers or search for a job or an internship after having obtained a diploma. “The students also benefit from training courses. We also hold meetings for students and we share our experiences and success with them. The majority of the students’ families are from rural areas. They refuse to send their daughters to Marrakech but when they visit us and learn about the living conditions, they allow their daughters to continue their education and stay here.”

Asmaa Ait Baraka studies sociology at university in Marrakech. She told us that she could continue her education thanks to Dar Moustaqbel. “The earthquake that hit Morocco in September affected us. The foundation provides shelter to me so that I can continue my education now. We study hard to have a better future.”

 It supports students

Hafida Azuqagh, a student at the Department of French Studies, is from Ouarzazate. “I heard what Dar Moustaqbel provides to female students living in villages and rural areas. I studied hard to pass the exam and I passed it,” she told us.

Salma Ait Slimane studies Arabic at university. She is from Moulay Brahim, a small town and rural commune in Al Haouz Province, and stays at the shelter. She thinks Dar Moustaqbel gives her the opportunity to continue her education. “Dar Moustaqbel provides us with spaces for our hobbies. My hobby is drawing and I have a space to practice my hobby. It also provides language courses to us.”