Rural Women's Development

Returned to Ouarzazate to meet with Anissa Naqrachi, president and founder of the Association of Light and Solidarity with Rural Women's Development. Moroccan names are sometimes not pronounced as they appear in English. Ouarzazate, for example, is pronounced Warzazaat. I had fresh grape juice (green grapes)at Anissa's house for the first time. All the women in the organization (about 1400) volunteer their time to work with the poorest women in the south of Morocco. The work involves a variety of areas from health, the importance of literacy, nutrition to the environment, etc.I also met her husband, who directs the Office of Agricultural Development for the region, and visited a biodiversity project. This espace Internet is on the second floor (only about 4 1/2 feet high) of an old house overlooking a narrow street in the medina. From time to time through the open windows, I can hear anything from motor scooter to other traffic, loud music, merchants selling their products from the small shops, or children playing and arguing below. Now there's a procession passing by playing Arabic music with drums and other instruments and some singing. Maybe someone's getting married.