Active Moroccan Women

I had interviews with women at two organizations today. Hayat Dinia heads Féminin Pluriel and has been on a State Department U.S. visit. She has funded a center through the Dinia Foundation, which consists of a conference room, art and cultural area, and a room with computers for information access. Though the building had no water today (this could happen in the U.S.) and needed a cleaning up after the five-week vacation, it's a rather impressive facility for Morocco. The center has held workshops, seminars, and issued several publications. The other organization, Union de l'Action Féminine, is, as its name indicates, a union bringing together assistance for women in a variety area, including protection against violence, empowerment, and education in democracy and women's rights. In between the meetings, I had lunch at a chic, outdoor restaurant with small tables under off-white, canvas umbrellas around a garden near Muhammad V Theater. A Moroccan salad is always the vegetables in season, chopped in small pieces. Salad Niçoise is also popular–shredded carrots, potato chunks, sliced egg, perhaps sliced tomatoes and cucumber, or other vegetables. Meat can be added. Olives and bread are a usual accompaniment. I had salad Niçoise with chicken and carbonated water. A cat slipped out to drink from a dish near a terra cotta pot. The restaurant seemed a place where Rabat's elite come to socialize. The weather is cooler but was still probably in the 80s today. Feels almost cool by comparison.