Our Mission
Empowering Women in the Atlas is a Moroccan initiative dedicated to advancing the economic, social, and educational empowerment of rural women, particularly in the Middle Atlas region and beyond.
The initiative works to:
1- Break the isolation of rural women and girls
2- Unlock their full human and economic potential
3- Promote women’s leadership as a catalyst for sustainable development
4- Foster inclusive and resilient rural communities
5- Transform women into drivers of social and economic change
EWA operates through a participatory, community-led approach that places local women at the center of decision-making and implementation.
Our Vision
We envision a world where rural women lead the transformation of their communities — shaping local economies, strengthening social cohesion, protecting the environment, and contributing fully to national and global development.
By investing in women, we invest in families, communities, and future generations.
Our Commitment
Empowering Women in the Atlas stands for a simple but powerful belief:
When rural women rise, communities thrive.
By investing in women’s leadership, education, and economic autonomy, EWA contributes to building more equitable, resilient, and sustainable societies.
A Participatory Approach to Development
EWA’s methodology is rooted in partnership with communities. Women participate in:
- Needs assessments
- Project design
- Implementation
- Governance and management
This participatory grassroots model ensures sustainable impact, local ownership, and long-term transformation.
A Human Story Before an Initiative
Empowering Women in the Atlas founded by Lamia Bazir in 2011. It was born from a human connection — a story of friendship, trust, and shared vision.
In 2011, while still a student at Al Akhawayn University, Lamia Bazir met a group of women from the rural village of Adghagh in Morocco’s Middle Atlas Mountains — Khadija, Idrissia, Achoura, Aïcha, Yamna, Hayat, Rabha, and Naima.
What began as a simple encounter became a life commitment.
Rather than seeing vulnerability, Lamia discovered strength, intelligence, creativity, and leadership. These women — often described as marginalized — already held the solutions to their communities’ challenges. What they lacked was access: access to networks, resources, knowledge, and opportunity.
From this realization emerged a conviction:
rural women are not beneficiaries of aid — they are change makers and leaders.
Empowering Women in the Atlas was created to build bridges between potential and opportunity, and to unlock the transformative power of rural women for sustainable development.
From One Village to a National Movement
After completing her studies at Sciences Po and Columbia University, Lamia Bazir returned to Morocco determined to scale her work.
What began as engagement with one village has grown into a national initiative supporting women across the Middle Atlas region and influencing broader conversations on rural development, gender equality, and sustainable growth.
Today, Empowering Women in the Atlas continues to expand its impact — connecting rural communities to global opportunities while preserving local knowledge, dignity, and leadership.
Key Pillars of Action
1–Economic Empowerment & Women’s Cooperatives
EWA promotes entrepreneurship and financial autonomy by supporting women in developing income-generating activities. Programs include:
- Training in traditional crafts such as carpet weaving
- Agricultural and ecological production activities
- Business and financial management skills
- Cooperative creation and strengthening
- Market access and commercialization support
Women are equipped to build sustainable livelihoods and lead local economic development.
2- Education & Literacy
Many rural women face structural barriers to education. EWA addresses this through:
- Literacy and numeracy programs
- Community-based education
- Leadership development
- Skills training for economic participation
- Education becomes a pathway to autonomy, dignity, and opportunity.
3- Leadership & Psychosocial Empowerment
Through personal development programs and workshops — including confidence-building and vision-based approaches — women:
- Develop self-confidence
- Understand their rights
- Overcome structural barriers
- Strengthen leadership capacities
- Envision new futures for themselves and their communities
4- Health & Community Well-being
EWA supports improved living conditions in underserved mountain regions through:
- Women’s health education
- Hygiene and sanitation initiatives
- Disease prevention awareness
- Community health services
- Winter and Ramadan donations
These actions improve both individual and collective well-being.
5- Environmental Sustainability
Recognizing rural women as key environmental stewards, EWA promotes:
- Sustainable use of natural resources
- Green entrepreneurship
- Climate-conscious practices
- Ecological production methods
Women become actors of environmental resilience and climate action.
6- Girls’ Education and Youth Empowerment
Recognizing women as catalysts in their communities and key figures at the heart of their families, EWA promotes :
- Support and equipment for schools in rural areas
- Education campaigns encouraging girls’ access to learning
- Children’s rights awareness initiatives
- Cultural and extracurricular activities
- Youth empowerment and educational programs
Women acto as local role models for girls and become actors of generational change, shaping the education and future of new generations within their villages and communities.
* Flagship Initiatives and Impact*
Women-Led Community Infrastructure
EWA supports the creation of community centers that serve as hubs for:
- Vocational training
- Economic activities
- Healthcare services
- Childcare Education
- Cooperative production
One major example is a solar-powered, women-run multi-service center benefiting more than 1,500 community members.
Leadership & Entrepreneurship Program for 100 Rural Women
A flagship program investing in rural women leaders through:
- Financial and business training
- Environmental awareness
- Project development coaching
- Access to equipment and markets
- Personalized mentorship
The program strengthens women’s capacity to lead sustainable enterprises and contribute to national economic growth.
Youth Exchange and Global Exposure
EWA connects rural youth to international opportunities, including exchange programs that allow young people from isolated mountain communities to:
- Travel abroad for the first time
- Discover new cultures and education systems
- Receive technical training (including solar energy)
- Expand their aspirations and leadership potential
- Community Development & Education Support
The initiative also mobilizes volunteers and partners to promote education:
- Support local schools
- Provide educational equipment
- Offer extracurricular programs
- Promote civic engagement and solidarity
- Resilience and Crisis Response
This participatory human development and women’s empowerment model ensures sustainable impact, local ownership, and long-term generational transformation.
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