Super Women: 11 Female-Led Projects Reshaping Morocco

What’s it like to be a woman in Morocco in 2024? For International Women’s Day, we’re putting the spotlight on a handful of female-led projects – big and small – that showcase the spectrum of navigating life as a woman in Morocco. 

The North African nation is one of contrasts where all women face challenges around gender inequality, where tradition and progress collide. Overall, Morocco is progressing at a rapid pace and gender equality is a priority, but women are still disadvantaged in many ways. 

A 2022 report from Morocco’s High Commission for Planning showed 8 in 10 women were not part of the workforce. Beyond empowering women to be able to make their own choices, this gap is a huge opportunity for Morocco’s economic growth and sustainable development.

Let’s take a look at a handful of female-led projects, from big non-profit organisations and rural co-ops to unexpected small businesses started by both international expats and the next generation of young Moroccan women.

Social enterprise: DARNA Maroc

While living overseas Tangier native Mounira Bouzid el-Alami felt homesick and wanted to improve Tangier’s socioeconomic situation. In 1995 she launched DARNA, which means “Our House” in Moroccan Darija, and opened its doors to women and children from rural areas or marginalised situations. DARNA is a social enterprise that offers assistance, guidance, and training to help women find a stable source of income so they can support themselves and contribute to the economy.

Now DARNA has six reception centres, hosting around 140 children aged 8 to 19 per day, and training around 120 women each day. Classes include literacy sessions and trades, such as weaving, painting and sewing. It’s an early example of social entrepreneurship in Morocco, and you can support DARNA by shopping for handicrafts as souvenirs and eating at Restaurant Communautaire Darna while in Tangier.

Read next: The Epic Hot List: The Must-Do Experiences in Morocco in 2024

Raising the profile of Moroccan art: LRNCE

Belgian-born artist Laurence Leenaert moved to Morocco in 2015. Here she launched her lifestyle brand LRNCE, which is now a multi-level art and design studio on the outskirts of Marrakech. Through her brand she crafts one-of-a-kind pieces using local materials and Moroccan craftsmanship. She works closely with traditional artisans in Morocco, using their skills and her aesthetic to create special pieces that are highly sought out across the globe.

Recently she carefully designed Riad Rosemary in Marrakech, bringing the hotel to life with local craftsmanship, original artworks and special design.

Moroccan women in tech: Ta7alil.ma

Two young Moroccan women are behind health-tech startup Ta7alil.ma, which has launched an application that digitises medical records and allows patients to communicate with healthcare professionals. Co-founder Sabrine Zahroubane came up with the idea after her father got sick. The two had to carry a large number of medical documents to every hospital appointment, and along the way some got lost. 

That was in 2017 and Sabine, who also runs a marketing and communications agency, pitched her co-founder Meryem Reneja to explore the idea. They joined an incubator, worked with an experienced mentor with a pharmaceutical background, and launched the app in 2022.

Cooking classes: Blue Door Tangier 

Another great female-led project in Tangier is Blue Door. The McTighe family launched this culinary tourism project to connect travellers with authentic food experiences that reveal “celebrate our shared humanity” and show the generous hospitality of Morocco. Blue Door employs a team of all-female Moroccan cooks, with Fatima at the heart of the kitchen and Zainab managing everything else.

Sustainable agriculture: Sand to Green

The unstoppable Wissal Ben Moussa doesn’t seem to sit still. She’s out to have a positive impact on the planet while supporting local communities. Between pioneering sustainable agriculture at her organic farm Domaine Nzaha, and launching botanical organic skincare brand Azal Botanicals, you’d think she’d be busy enough. But most recently she’s been experimenting with arid-resilient agriculture through Sand to Green.

The idea is to fight deforestation and desertification of Morocco (and beyond) with desert agriculture and plantations of endemic species. Each plot will be irrigated by solar-powered desalination.

Read next: Erg Chigaga: Starry nights in Morocco’s lesser-known Sahara Desert

Saffron and farming: Le Paradis du Safran

More than a decade ago Swiss woman Christine Ferrari arrived in Morocco with a dream. From the ground up, she went against the grain building and faced many challenges while building her own organic saffron farm about an hour outside of Marrakech. 

Each harvest season Le Paradis du Safran employs around 50 local Berbers and now Christine’s red saffron is internationally recognised for its quality. You can drop by the organic farm, wander the citrus orchards and herb and rose gardens, and enjoy a farm-to-table traditional Moroccan lunch.

Social enterprise: Amal

Amal is an inspiring Marrakech social enterprise started by Nora Fitzgerald Belahcen, who was born and raised in Morocco by Californian muslim parents. She saw the opportunity to lift women, mostly single mothers who needed to earn their own money, through the nourishing power of food. 

Since 2013 the non-profit has operated a training centre that teaches women the skills to become chefs. Amal has a restaurant and cooking school, where you can join classes with the students and chefs of the centre to support their mission and help women, one plate at a time. Most recently Amal launched the award-winning Sign Language Cafe, a project run by Amal’s deaf and hearing graduates to create more opportunities to work after the program.

Supporting artisans: Lalla Boutique

A French women with a bohemian heart, Laetitia Trouillet launched Lalla (which means Madame in Arabic) to combine her love of travel and markets. Through her brand Lalla she works directly with Moroccan artisans and local craftsmen to produce playful and practical bags, clutches and accessories.

You can shop the Moroccan-made goods at her two stores – one in Marrakech and another in Biarritz, France – and spot the unique products in cool boutiques around the world.  

Solar power and women: Project Faredeic 

Renewable energy and women? A winning combo. This huge project, which launched in 2019, was focused on the development of the local renewable energy sector through the creation of women’s energy cooperatives. This initiative kicks two goals at once by creating jobs and training young women to become technicians, who can manufacture solar cookers and dryers.

Fashion to empower: Norya ayroN and Hanout Boutique

While a dress doesn’t make a woman, it can give them confidence and empower their independence. Next time you’re in Marrakech, look for these two cool fashion labels and boutiques that work with local ateliers and workshops. 

Hanout Boutique is a Moroccan luxury ready-to-wear, started by Meriem Nour, a self-taught Moroccan designer who is inspired by Marrakech and the city’s history.

Noyra ayroN combines traditional Moroccan craft techniques with couture design, crafting colorful collections paying homage to Morocco. The Algerian-French designer and businesswoman is passionate about African design and launched her brand over a decade ago.

Meet Nisrine, one of Epic’s female drivers in Morocco

Finally, we wanted to highlight the amazing Nisrine. This bright, warm and dynamic young woman works for Epic and is one of Morocco’s first female driver guides. She’s going against the grain by entering a previously male-dominated industry. She has worked hard and holds a degree in business, yet hated being locked within an office. You can read her story here, and meet her if you choose to travel with us.

“Women in Moroccan can do what they like, it’s becoming easier now they just need some freedom from the family and society. I think it’s up to women if they believe in themselves they can do what they like, sometimes it’s just confidence,” – Nisrine.

If you’re planning to visit Morocco in 2024, reach out to team Epic and we’ll design and curate your dream adventure.

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