Earthquake Appeal Morocco

Fundraising for Earthquake Victims in Morocco

As the old saying goes, “a man’s home is his castle” – and that holds true even amongst the remote Berber tribes.

Sadly, many have been lost with the true figures still yet to be determined. The tremors were terrifying, we even felt them here on the coast in Sidi Kaouki (near Essaouira). Luckily we are all safe and well, with only nominal damage to some art on the walls. However, our properties are built on solid foundations unlike the rural village homes in the Atlas Mountains, which are traditionally very simple constructions.

We received such an outpouring of love and support from friends around the world and on our socials – thank you all for your kindness and offers of help. Having now recovered from the fright of what we personally experienced during the quake, nominal by comparison to those in Marrakech and its surrounding villages, we have spent the last few days talking to local Berber friends to see what help their communities needed most and how we could help.

Local charities are working tirelessly beside bigger global charities to provide critical emergency care and vital supplies (food, water, etc.) Government help is currently, and understandably, focused on urgent search and rescue missions where access to these rural communities is treacherous and largely inaccessible. They are yet to announce what official provision will be made. Currently, there is limited information on how these communities will actually be able to rebuild their homes and their villages. This is where we want to help.

The Atlas Village Initiative

We have found an incredible local initiative that will provide undiluted help straight into the hands of these communities to make a positive, direct impact on the lives of those worst affected by the earthquake.

One of our loyal colleagues, Hicham, operates a professional fleet of vehicles and works regularly with us for holiday clients as well as on commercial production projects. His team also provide guided tours of the Atlas Mountains so are personally well-acquainted with the village tribes. He has built trust amongst these often shy communities and, importantly, knows how to access them.

An official charitable association has now been set up by Hicham and is dedicated to providing direct help into the hands of the Atlas villages. His team are driving daily as far as physically possible, then travelling the last section by foot to reach the most remote areas. His initiative provides basic essentials but their focus is to donate cash to the communities so they can begin to rebuild their villages.

“It takes a village to raise a child.”

– AFRICAN PROVERB

100% of your donation will go to providing remote mountain tribes with the means to rebuild their own castles in the sand.

Cob or earth houses are primitively built from stone, mud and wood. Constructed entirely by hand where road access and building supplies are very limited. Each home would cost approximately £2,000 to build.

We are collecting donations for the Atlas Village Initiative. All monies will be transferred so Hicham and his team can physically put the funds into the hands of those that need it the most. Direct impact, no dilution with admin staff costs.

Together, let’s rebuild a village!