September 22nd 2023.
The 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco two weeks ago was devastating. Thousands of people lost their lives and entire towns were left in rubble. This was particularly true of the bustling town of Asni, with its once full of activity rooftops now silent.
The tragedy has had a particularly profound impact on the girls that were staying in the boarding houses of a charity called Education For All. The charity has been providing resources and accommodation to young women from remote villages since 2007, and the girls were due to start their term when the earthquake struck.
I had the pleasure of visiting three of the boarding houses in Asni for a journalism project in October 2022, and I can attest to the care and warmth of everyone I met. I remember the taste of countless mint teas and the hopes and dreams of the future doctors, nurses, teachers, business owners, and tourism guides.
The wait for news of the girls was excruciating for everyone involved. Some villages were so remote that there was no signal, and others were cut off by dangerous roads and rockfalls. Unfortunately, one girl did not survive.
The earthquake has caused extensive damage to the six houses that Education For All run, four of which will now need to be demolished and rebuilt in their entirety. The charity estimates that this will cost them over £1 million, and they have already launched a crisis appeal to raise funds.
One of the house mothers even slept outside the boarding house for two nights to ensure nobody entered through the gaping holes in the walls. This demonstrates the loyalty that the organisation has elicited from its staff and the girls, who consider each other as family.
The Moroccan government has indicated that schools in the High Atlas region will remain closed and students will be relocated to Marrakech. However, Education For All is doing all it can to ensure that the girls are able to continue their education and are not separated from their families.
A few glimmers of hope have been found amidst the tragedy. One former EFA student, Asma Ait Taleb, has been able to use the skills she learnt from the charity to help with the relief efforts in her village of Ouigrane.
The charity is now working towards rebuilding the houses and providing short-term care, psychological support, and lodgings for the girls. Despite the enormity of the task, Education For All is determined to continue its progress and is hopeful for the future.
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