Hello! for those of you who have visited before, this is the news spot for you! If you're new to the site please continue through the pages to get a good picture of what we're up to.
Join the lead team for this project! We need folks with management skills: accounting, scheduling, critical path, logistics, non-profit and charity connections. Become part of this exciting opportunity to share your skill and make a difference. Please contact Elke
If you would like to be part of the adventure as a volunteer, visit the re-building camp page and apply today.
THE STORY This is a story of extraordinary friendship between two young Berber men, M'Barek and Rachid, that reached around the world, saved a life, and is now transforming a village. M'Barek and Rachid grew up together in the desert. Rachid moved to Fes with his family and became a computer technician, and continued to visit his friend, M'Barek, who became a guide in the desert at age eight. Until January 2006 M'Barek lived with his family in a house like these, in a village in the south of Morocco called Merzouga,These villages are inhabited by Berbers, the famous Blue men of the desert or Tuareg. M'barek, now 28, knows the desert and its secrets, and for twenty years he has shared them with his visitors from around the world as their guide.
One of these visitors was Shelora Fitzgerald from Vancouver, Canada. In August 2006 she spent three days in the desert with M'barek's guidance - an experience full of vision and spirit. She left Morocco promising to tell the world about the Berber people, the extraordinary hospitality of the Moroccan people, and the luscious beauty of the Moroccan Sahara Desert. She also resolved to come back and create a pilgrimage by camel to Jerusalem, led by M'Barek. Shelora promised to stay in touch with M'Barek and his childhood friends Rachid and Ahmed .
Fast forward to January 2007, when Shelora received notice from Rachid of a disaster of major proportions. Within two hours a flash floods swept through three villages, destroying one hundred houses and hotels and killing nine people.
Four of the nine people who were killed were M'Barek's mother, father and two of his three sisters. M'barek was in a public clinic in a coma with his leg amputated. Rachid called for help from everyone that M'Barek had ever guided, from all over the world. Within 24 hours, Shelora and other family and friends from around the world mobilized to bring M'Barek by ambulance across Morocco to get him the treatment in a private clinic that he needed to save his life. Six weeks later he came out of the coma to learn that he had lost his family, his home, his leg, and his livelihood. Rachid's family took him in until he received a new leg with the help of a nurse from France. He is now living in Merzouga with friends. THE SITUATION A year has gone by and even though the villagers have had some help, receiving tents to live in temporarily, and aid has come from some other countries. The Moroccan government has made small sums of 1000-3000 Euros available. In addition the government of Quatar has given some funds. But it is not enough. Their homes still need to be rebuilt. The cost of rebuilding one house is 5000 Euro's or $7500. The world remains largely unaware of this flood and its impact . Due to climate change the occurrence of flash floods is expected to continue in the Sahara with increasing frequency.
THE DREAM Imagine a gathering of people of great enthusiasm and skill, and a the desire to contribute. Surrounded by the desert, all are coming together in the villages to work with the villagers to rebuild their houses. Guidance is given by experienced builders and the village elders. While some are building, others help with food, planning, gathering things and translation. And we celebrate this global community event with music and stories. Many languages are spoken, meals shared, new connections made. Everyone sleeps in tents, everyone helps out with tasks- a community for a season. Are there ten of us? twenty? eighty?
THE ADVENTURE Morocco has much to offer to the visitor. Ancient cities of earthen buildings, markets, the Atlas mountains and desert treks. Merzouga is located at the edge of the Sahara desert and is a popular access point for treks. See also: The location Add to that the immersion into the building work- really living in the village for a while, hearing the sounds of the daily rhythms, carefully learning and participating in local culture. Look up Merzouga in Google Earth and you will see...
THE WORK We are looking for folks who are able to participate in a dynamic, camp like situation. In a different cultural environment we can't expect to have things work the same way as where we come from. This is a call to be respectful, open minded and present. There are clear tasks to be accomplished, which means physical work in a hot climate. Volunteers will be expected to have a good level of personal leadership skills: respect, communication , self motivation, willingness to share, cultural sensitivity, self reliance. This is an opportunity to learn and practice earth building. Local and international builders will be sharing their knowledge in an effort to share and to build lasting and beautiful homes for the villagers. Please go to the re-building camp page for more information.
THE TEAM The organizers are working with representatives of the village to create this unique opportunity to make a difference. More information to come soon.
Interested?
If this is calling you, please get in touch with us by filling out the form below.
