Inclusive Morocco, the first LGBTQ-founded and led luxury travel company in Morocco is proud to share its suggestions for celebrating International Women’s Day with substance this year, thanks to their support of female communities across Morocco. From artisanal collectives to female-led workshops and social enterprises, support for women threads through all of Inclusive Morocco’s trips and itineraries. Here, they have picked out their top choices for supporting and celebrating women across Morocco.
Artisanal creators and beauty workshops
Guests of Inclusive Morocco are always encouraged to immerse themselves fully into the traditions and heritage of the destination, and nothing reflects the history of Moroccan craft than the Anou Cooperative.
The Anou Cooperative is a collective of more than 600 Moroccan artisans, more than 90% of whom are women. Guests can participate in their workshops to understand and try their hand at some of Morocco’s best-known crafts, such as a weaving workshop in the medina of Fes. The artisans themselves earn 80% of the goods sold, and the remaining 20% is invested back into the community for training and employment to ensure a future for the craft and the women who specialise in it.
For guests more interested in the art of beauty, Inclusive Morocco also organise hands-on beauty secrets workshops in Fes. Given this is a traditionally female space, guests will naturally work with women in these workshops, gaining a deeper understanding of aromatherapy and other holistic beauty techniques, all while supporting these women and their trade.
Inspiring collectives and cooperatives
Guests of Inclusive Morocco will also get the opportunity to experience much larger projects during many of their itineraries. As part of the Echoes of the Atlas trip, guests stay overnight in Tizkmoudine village, the first regenerative hospitality project in Africa, created collaboratively by 700’000 Heures Impact and The Global Heritage Foundation. The site is fully run by women who also run a cooperative on-site using sustainable weaving techniques to create uniquely designed yet traditional items. Guests are encouraged to spend quality time with the women, meeting them over dinner to learn about their work and witness them performing their traditional heritage songs, before visiting the cooperative the next morning. This experience perfectly combines a celebration of Moroccan women’s heritage and tradition with an insight into women’s industry and craft in Morocco today.
In Marrakech, many guests cite a visit to the Amal Centre as one of the highlights of their trip. The Amal Centre is a non-profit organisation and social enterprise, founded by Nora Fitzgerald Belahcen and Oumaima Outghouli in 2012 with the goal of empowering disadvantaged women through training in culinary arts and hospitality skills. The centre offers cooking classes, catering services, and a restaurant for visitors to enjoy delicious Moroccan cuisine prepared by the women who have trained there. The Amal Centre also provides literacy and language classes and supports women in improving their lives and becoming financially independent. During and following the devastating earthquake in 2023, The Amal Centre was pivotal in providing warm meals to affected areas and communities in Marrakech and the High Atlas Mountains.
Guests booking with Inclusive Morocco can not only expect to be immersed in these experiences directly but can also rest assured that they are actively contributing to Inclusive Morocco’s support of every one of the women involved, championing them as leaders in industry and showcasing their inspiring work to the wider world.
Visit www.inclusivemorocco.com for more information.
