100 Thousands Poets for Change, Hosted Poetry Event at Dar Si Hmad

Earlier this month Dar Si Hmad hosted an international poetry event at our center in Agadir. The event was made possible in collaboration with 100 Thousand Poets for Change, “100TPC” for short, an initiative established in 2011 by California poets Mr. Michael Rothenberg and Ms. Terri Carrion. Both Mr. Rothenberg and Ms. Carrion, along with their photographer, came to Morocco for their first time to join us for the event.

100TPC is a project that brings together poets, musicians and artists around the United States and across the globe in a poetry demonstration and celebration to promote peace, sustainability and social, environmental and political change. 100TPC helps motivated people from around the world organize a poetry event in their own community; students, both aspiring and established poets, musicians, travelers and community members all joined us at Dar Si Hmad for a day of poetry and expression.

At this event, there were poets from all ages, professions and languages. Well-known poets shared their work and artistry, aspiring writers were heard in public for the first time, and Canadian musicians encouraged the audience to be more conscious of our environment and resources. We listened to poetry and song in several languages--Arabic, French, Spanish and English--with each poem transmitting experiences, emotions, knowledge and passion in their own unique way.

Poetry is sustainable and is a driving force for peace and change in our world. Dar Si Hmad is proud and honored to have shared this moment with 100TPC and  members of our community. We are thankful for the efforts of everyone who made this event memorable and will continue to be inspired by the passionate poets who stood on stage to share with us a part of themselves. Thanks to 100TPC founders, Mr. Rothenberg and Ms. Carrion, for making the journey to Morocco and having Agadir be their very first stop before they made their way to other cities in the country to perform and connect with other poets and artists. Dar Si Hmad hopes that this event is the beginning of a long-standing relationship with 100 Thousand Poets for Change and other poets and artists in our very own community.

Dar Si Hmad was thrilled to host 100 Thousand Poets for Change because we believe in the impact poetry has on spreading peace within the society.

Renda Nazzal

Ethnographic School Liaison and Manager

Visual Arts for Development at Dar Si Hmad

Dar Si Hmad hosted three filmmakers from Morocco and Egypt in the months of March and April to present their documentary films and conduct filmmaking workshops for local students in Agadir.

In March, Dar Si Hmad invited Moroccan filmmaker Karima Zoubir to screen her documentary film Camera/Woman. The film highlights the life of an ordinary woman, burdened by various constraints due to her gender and marital status. The woman, Khadija, is a divorcee and gains an income by working as a camera-woman at weddings in Casablanca. Khadija is subject to gossip and rumors and her family disagrees with her choice of work. This documentary portrays this deep and conflicting tension in her life. 

Following the screening, the audience engaged with Ms. Zoubir in a conversation about gender roles and inequalities in Morocco, the family code and the constraints that the filmmaker faced while making this film.

The the following two days Dar Si Hmad organized a documentary film workshop facilitated by Ms. Zoubir. The workshop focused on three main areas: writing a documentary film proposal, financial planning, and film distribution and promotion. 

Click below for a summary of the workshop if you are interested in learning more:

How to Finance Your Documentary Film w/ Ms. Karima Zoubir

In April, Dar Si Hmad invited Ms. Mirit Mikhail and Mr. Mahmoud Afifi to celebrate cinema for a four-day event in Agadir. On the first day we screened the film 18 Days in the Heart of the Egyptian Revolution directed by Ms. Mikhail and Mr. Farid Ismail, both French-Egyptian filmmakers. The documentary is the only film to look at the revolution from the perspective of the Egyptian diaspora. 

Various university students, professors, expatriates and researchers attended the screening and engaged in a debate with Ms. Mikhail about the Democratic Spring in Egypt. The audience was also curious on how the Egyptian diaspora views the current situation in Egypt and the ways in which they aspire to be part of the making of modern Egyptian history.

For the following three days, Dar Si Hmad hosted a workshop facilitated by both Ms. Mikhail and Mr. Afifi focusing on photography and filmmaking techniques. Ms. Mikhail taught the history of cinema, how to write a scenario and how to make one-minute films. Alternatively, Mr. Afifi focused on photography techniques, types of lenses and the lighting on how to read the characteristics of camera lenses. Both workshops complemented each other and gave basic training to aspiring filmmakers.

 The last day of workshop was dedicated to teaching students how to make a one-minute film. The students spent the whole morning preparing their scenarios and shooting. In the afternoon, both trainers coached the students on the editing of their films. By the end of the day, the students felt a sense of accomplishment after screening their short films thanks to the help of the trainers and the passion of the students.

Click below for Mr. Mahmoud Afifi's workshop presentation: Photography Workshop Presentation w/ Mr. Mahmoud Afifi

Here below is a 15-minute video on the history of cinema:

Here below is an example one-minute film that was presented by Ms. Mikhail during her workshop:

Thank you to the wonderful filmmakers and students who joined us for these events at Dar Si Hmad!

Fatima Matousse
Visual Arts for Development Coordinator

A Dar Si Hmad Reflection on Development

Recently the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation released their annual letter.  This letter has really stirred a lot of emotions and discussion in our office.  It has prompted us to stop, take a moment and think about the work and projects we do with the rural population of the Ait Baamrane.  In their letter, Bill and Melinda Gates highlight the extremely important fact that development work has changed positively the face of the world, that it has, indeed, eradicated diseases, improved standards of livelihoods, created economic opportunities for large, underprivileged, sections of human societies.  These are achievements we quickly dismiss to only highlights shortcomings, problems, challenges and gaps facing the world.  The Gates demonstrate how these positive steps have been achieved and the impact they continue having on the world-populations today. The Gates’ argument is that we are often blind to the achievements, to the positive outcomes and quickly underline the lacks and the missing components.  We surely focus on how half-empty the cup is, but we forget or disregard that the cup is equally half-full, that lives have been saved and standards improved.  

The mission of our organization is the creation of conditions that enable the emergence of more equitable living for the poorer region of Southwest Morocco where we work.  Regions where there is no water, few roads, very limited schooling or health access.  I will pass on the means on how we work to achieve these equitable conditions, but we have always thought of ourselves as a sort of loop, at the service of our communities, connecting them and helping them gain access to and benefit from various scientific discoveries and help adopt and adapt the positive aspects of modernity.  The philosophy of our work is rooted in respect of human dignity and care for our environment.  

This letter from the Gates Foundation made us stop and think in a different way.  We, at Dar Si Hmad, have always dismissed the bigot assumption that scientific progress is too sophisticated for the rural world.  We have always argued that contemporary ICTs are ideal tools for enhancing better living conditions, and for accepting change within conservative environments.  While we are always conscious of our mission, this letter caused us to reconsider what it is that nurtures our work; it gave us the possibility to reflect on who we are and what we do in very positive ways, looking at the cup half-full.

In the work we carry in our office, deadlines are of paramount importance.  Search for funding, proposing daring, innovative (almost radical ideas) occupies our days and our thoughts.  When we wrap-up the conceptional part of a given project after having worked with the potential beneficiaries and learned from them, we go once more to the field with a sense of expectation, we work with partners and are pressured by deadlines, guidelines and outcomes.  There is often a sense of ambient urgency, but we do not bring the distinction of positive-negative impacts to the table, this has remained un-seen so far.  This letter made us think of the necessity of considering this binary as an important cue, or better yet, compass to guide the work.  

The tasks will be accomplished either way, but whether the attitude we work with is steeped in positive, hopeful expectation or if it stems out of a sense of urgency and a logic of lack, make a world of difference in how we do the work and how we evaluate it.  When it is the positive attitude and hopeful seeds are sowed, the results seem to be happier, we seem to be happier having been nurtured by positiveness instead of urgency or panic.  Thank you to the Gates Foundation for helping us shift working out of pressing urgency of lack to celebrating our achievements and adding to those before us.

Jamila Bargach

Link to the 2014 Gates Annual Letter: http://annualletter.gatesfoundation.org/

Memory and Revival of Agadir, Morocco Through Cinema

Association Dar Si Hmad organized a film screening and a cinema workshop from February 27th through March 1st. On the first day we screened the documentary film Agadir 1960: Un rêve en couleur (Agadir 1960: A Colorful Dream) by Mr. Brahim Amzil. For the two remaining days Mr. Amzil conducted a cinema workshop for interested students.

We remembered how on February 29th, 1960 a devastating earthquake hit Agadir at midnight and in less than 15 seconds rendered parts of the city to rumbles. It is considered the most destructive earthquake in the 20th century, reaching a VI intensity and losing over third of the city’s inhabitants. Some neighborhoods and parts of Agadir lost 95% of their population such as the Kasbah (famous now for being Agadir Oufflla), Talborjt and Ihshash.

The documentary film or the “historical piece,” as participating Dr. Fatima Bensalem named it, braids the discarded pieces of the forgotten history of Agadir prior to the natural disaster. The screening brought together some of the earthquake survivors, young people, Amazigh activists and researchers.  The moment was intense; one of remembering, mourning and celebrating the lives of those who died that night. Now and after hearing all these stories, I am much more conscious that the land I walk on carries the souls of many people who lost their lives during the earthquake and who did not receive proper burial ceremonies.

We were humbled by the presence of the filmmaker, Mr. Amzil, along with three protagonists from the film, Larbi Babahadi, Lahcen Roussafi and Marie-France Dartois. They all engaged with the audience in a very fruitful and valuable discussion. The protagonists shared with us their intimate stories, nostalgia, impressions, hopes and feelings about the film.

The audience noted how Agadir is currently missing an important part of its history; there has been a forced forgetting of this event. While walking in Agadir one does not perceive signs that relates this place to its old history and to the trauma it has gone through. For instance, Agadir Oufella, previously the Kasbah, is a historical monument which lacks the adequate preservation or historical showcasing. When visiting this site today, there is no background information or the story of the Kasbah that was destroyed because of the natural disaster. It is disappointing that the historical site has been reduced to a location filled with vendors selling fake jewelry and orientalist images for tourism. We were impressed by this documentary and we encourage the youth to model such initiative in order to preserve the history and the culture of Agadir.

Fatima Matousse

Language Instructor and Film Education Program Coordinator at Dar Si Hmad

Student Reflections in Morocco: Traveling to Tiznit and Sidi Ifni

June 2013 by Alex Mickler, Rollins College student

*adapted from the blog Rollins College in Morocco

After one last continental breakfast at our hotel in Agadir, we departed this morning for Sidi Ifni. On the way, we would be stopping in Tiznit, where a silver market was located, so many of us exchanged money for some Moroccan dirhams. It always amazes me how colorful other countries' money is; ours is somewhat boring in comparison! Our exchange rate was favorable--approximately $1 USD = 8 dirham.

I really enjoyed Agadir and thought it to be a great introduction to the country. As a somewhat tourist destination, it eased us into the culture and helped us become familiar with our surroundings and the language, to a point. However, our next destination, Sidi Ifni, is a small rural town on the southern coast, and I expected the environment to be very different and to feel more immersed in the Moroccan culture.

The drive to Sidi Ifni was filled with amazing views of the countryside, and eventually, the coast. Although the drive was long, I didn't want to fall asleep because the landscape constantly changed. We departed the Agadir coast, then transitioned to rural farmland, mountains, cliffs, and many, many sheep! Eventually we reached Tiznit, a small city with a shopping market and restaurants. Here, I instantly felt like a tourist and much more out of my comfort zone. When traveling, I always feel compelled to try to blend in and live as one within the culture; however, Moroccan and Islamic culture (especially the Arabic dialect) posed greater challenges to this approach due to my unfamiliarity and physical distinction. Additionally, we are a group of 14 diverse, chatty, and mainly-female Americans, so the stares from the natives were somewhat justified.

At the silver market, our speaking partners helped us bargain with the vendors and ensure we weren't ripped off. While it was fun watching Dr. Newcomb and Leila banter with the vendors, I also felt a little frustrated not being able to communicate. Gestures and facial expressions can only go so far for a dialect so different from English. Language barriers are tough, but they both got me a good deal on a silver hand of Fatima necklace and some earrings!

Shopping in the market with Lauren, Sofia, Julia, and Jamila.

We then had a traditional meal of tagines, large clay pots in which a variety of vegetables, meat (lamb/chicken), and cous cous are cooked. The tagine gives the meal even more flavor, and traditionally, they are consumed communally, with each person eating just the section in front of them. The meal was very colorful and rich--and was, of course, accompanied by lots of bread! This quickly became one of my favorite Moroccan meals. 

After a few more hours of driving, we finally descended on the coast once more and the small town of Sidi Ifni seemed to appear out of nowhere. Sidi Ifni is a popular surfing town, but for the most part, is very quiet and quaint. After just a few hours here, I instantly felt comfortable walking around, and a group of us ventured to see the beautiful coastline views. 

Afterwards, we headed to Jamila Bargach's foundation, Dar Si Hmad, for dinner and conversation. We had some soup, kabobs, and zucchini with a tomato sauce that absolutely exploded with flavor. Over dinner, Asma (one of the speaking partners) and I discussed similarities in Moroccan and US education systems, favorite traditions, and her favorite cuisine--eggplant salads! The speaking partners give us  fantastic first-hand views and opinions and have really helped us integrate into the culture. This aspect of our program has helped me learn so much more, while also making friends across the world.

After dinner, our group took a walking tour of the city, which seemed to absolutely come to life at night! During the day, men could be found sitting at some of the few cafes, and not many women were in sight. However, at night, many young people were hanging out by the beach, and women and their young children all socialized at the central park. Men still occupied the cafes and restaurants, which was an interesting observation on gendered space. While women typically occupy the home, and men, the public sphere in Moroccan culture, here, all the women brought their children to play while they socialized with one another. Dressed in traditional jellabas, they were all smiling, laughing and enjoying each other's company-surprisingly still at 10 pm! Luckily, it wasn't a school night for the kids.

Since Sidi Ifni was colonized by the Spanish, many Spanish-style architecture exists, but these buildings are vacant due to some enduring tensions between the Moroccan and Spanish governments. Most were poorly maintained, but the contrast between the architecture styles was a testament to the history of this city. Many of the elders, we were told, still spoke some Spanish, but aside from them, everyone mainly speaks French and the Moroccan dialect of Arabic.

Maria's ("the last of the Spanish") home, an enduring symbol of nostalgia.

Although today consisted of a lot of traveling, it nonetheless still provided us many experiences with globalization. Not only the contrast between popular, touristy Agadir and the traditional, rural town of Sidi Ifni, but also the changes in cuisine, dress, appearance, and dialects spoken by the natives exemplified how diverse Morocco is, and how in a developing nation, development isn't always planned--its often unevenly spread throughout the country.

Discovering the Environment through Water Education

This summer, Dar Si Hmad is planning a water-education program for rural children in the poor region of Ait Baamrane, Southwest Morocco, in collaboration with the delegation of the Ministry of Education in Sidi Ifni. 50 children ages 7-13, on vacation, with no opportunities to continue learning, will participate in this thematic based-curriculum. These children live in remote, landlocked rural areas with very limited access to and knowledge of the outside world. This program will raise youth curiosity surrounding cycles of water, educate them on sustainability, conservation and ecological issues. Through scientific lenses, the children will build awareness and discover connections between themselves, their environment and the world beyond.

Despite noteworthy State efforts, rural children in Southwest Morocco continue to suffer from poor education, ranging from inadequate facilities, lack of water and toilets, language of instruction being Arabic in a predominantly Berber world, to teachers’ absenteeism.  Children of all ages and levels study in one room with one teacher, being passive listeners instead of active participants in their own learning. Curriculum is barely covered and rarely understood by the students.

By providing the children with a pedagogy that is fun, interactive, participatory and encourages experiential learning, we stimulate intellectual growth, and help all children, especially the girls, join high-school.

Children will be encouraged to influence how the environment is shaped, to become initiators of steps to secure the future in their homeland. They will discover and grasp wider dimensions of water, sustainability, and the equation of water-health. The school will nurture their curiosity, equip them with basics to succeed and continue their studies. 

Dar Si Hmad plans on making the water-school a yearly-program, plus partnering with other associations to implement the curriculum in adjacent regions.

To support this program, please make a change by donating to our project on GlobalGiving. Thank you and keep checking back for updates on this project!

http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/summer-water-school-for-rural-children-in-morocco/

The Amazigh New Year 2964

During January, Dar Si Hmad celebrated the Amazigh New Year.

This new year is 2964 and we are happy to say that throughout the Berber world, from southern Egypt to the Canary Islands, from the tip of North Africa to Southern Mali, all of us join together in celebrating almost 3000 years of preservation and cultural renewal. The Amazigh new year happens on January 13th every year.  Different Amazigh communities have different names for the event, and here in our part of Morocco we refer to it as Id usggass or Id Yennayer, meaning the new year’s eve.

The foundational moment from which the counting started goes back to the coronation of Pharon Sheshong, 26th Dynasty, that is the 6th Century BC.  This is an event that has been reconstructed to bear a profound meaning for the Amazigh identity and culture.  

In the Ait Baamrane region, the most widespread means of celebration is through food.  The typical dish being a3sida-Tagula (new year grains cooked and eaten with oil and honey), with a date pit bearing luck for the person to find it.  In other parts of the Berber world, it is celebrated via Couscous with seven vegetables, and herbel (the new shoots of wheat cooked with milk and served with honey).  All the dishes prepared for the celebration of  Id usggas are symbolically calling upon abundance and sweetness.  

The  Id usggas calendar is also reminiscent of the Julian Calendar that has been in use until the 16th century in Europe.  Though these calendars follow the movement of the sun, the moon and the stars, they are more importantly rooted in the seasonal and agricultural realities of the time.

The Amazigh activists in Morocco and elsewhere are reviving and valorizing the celebration of the Amazigh new year. The call from the Amazigh Rights’ associations and movements to recognize the Amazigh new year as an official national holiday .

Similarly to Kwanzaa the African New Year that African Americans celebrate in the USA, Nawruz the Iranian New Year, or the Chinese New Year and many others, Id usggas speaks about a cultural particularity and carries meaning for the people as it ties them to their history and heritage.