newsletter

V I R G I N U N I T E

G U E S TS N E W S LE TTE R 1S T E D I TI O N 2005 Compiled by Eve Branson

VIRGIN UNITE

Morocco
SOME OF THE GUESTS AT KASBAH

TAMADOT HAVE ASKED ME

“WHAT IS VIRGIN
UNITE, WHAT IS
IT’S AIM, WHAT
DOES IT DO?”
C O N T A C T
WELL, AS RICHARD HAS ASKED ME
Sue Hale
TO HELP IN THE LOCAL VIRGIN
TEL: 0208 600 0464
EMAIL: sue.hale@virginunite.co.uk
UNITE ENTERPRISE IN MOROCCO,

THIS NEWSLETTER GIVES

ANSWERS TO THOSE QUESTIONS.

K ASB AH TAM ADOT • ASNI • ASALDA • TIM Z RA • TAG ADI RT

 virgin unite morocco
Virgin Unite is On the 20th September 2004, soon after the Kasbah
opened and snow had just started to fall on the Atlas
Mountains, I started to find out the needs of the local
interested in looking people in the surrounding villages of Asni, Asalda,
Timzra & Tagadirt. My aim was to assist those who
for opportunities to live in the villages to help themselves. Hence I set
out to discover their greatest needs, ie: education, job
creation and also to encourage their talents in various
support sustainable crafts - embroidery, rug making etc.
grass root projects that
Arriving late September 2004 I met Housin,
President of the Local Association TIFAOINE, which
in Arabic means ‘Candlelight’. This association looks
will help people in the after the local villages, with the Governor
Mohammed Ichnnaren at the head.
villages surrounding Studying their articles of Association made me realise
that they had already managed to save enough to
Kasbah Tamadot to build a small office, school and workshop in Asni. The
challenge was on but as I only spoke a smattering of
French and no Arabic, who better to turn to but my
build a brighter future good Moroccan friend Brahim who had lived in one of
the villages all his life. Not only could he speak English
for themselves. but was well respected by the Governor, members of
the local association and also the local inhabitants.
Learning a trade Vivianne looks at the embroidery Brahim The premature baby clinic
I then set out to find someone in Morocco who was
artistic and who could also speak their language to
be my representative. I found the very person in
Vivianne, who helps run my daughter’s hotel a Riad
in Marrakesh, “Riad El Fin” Derb Moula. Vivianne not
only speaks Arabic and French fluently but also has
artistic ideas and (ever hopeful!) a spot of free time.
Vivianne and I first consulted the Governor before
delving into the four surrounding Villages near
Kasbah Tamadot, to find out what they needed and
were being taught, indeed what they required to
help them further.
Along with rug making and embroidery, schooling
and a playground they also needed help with an
ambulance, a clinic, more trees to avoid erosion
and replacement of some water pipes. Thanks to
the financial help of some of the Kasbah guests,
Vivianne was able to buy better materials for their
embroidery work. I hope to rent a nearby shop so
we can sell their handmade garments and rugs,
putting back some of the proceeds both to them
and their villages.
The bulldozer at work Happy children-a playground at last!
In May 2005 I returned to see the flattened ground
made by the local road bulldozer kindly lent by
the Governor (we only had to pay for the fuel!)
On my next visit in September 2005 I’m hoping to
take our aims further. I’m also taking out knitting
needles, wool, skipping ropes, pencils, paper and
three computers with CDs for teaching English to
the Arabs and Berbers. We’ve been given nine other
computers for Virgin Unite in South Africa - so
who knows, they may be able to communicate yet
with Virgin Unite South Africa. My main aim is to
conserve their happy unspoilt dispositions.
I hope to send out another news letter to the
guests of Tamadot to update the progress of
Virgin Unite - Morocco and perhaps you too will
visit the shop in the village of Asni, where you will
be able to purchase local products and contribute to
the aims of Virgin Unite.
EVE BRANSON
Shop we are hoping to rent