Morocco vacation, 5 days

Planet and people

Our ground agent in Morocco is committed to the sustainable development of the local tourism industry and they push their suppliers to preserve the nature and planet by identifying new methods for waste disposal, recycling, energy saving and other environmental initiatives. For example, the Bio Aromatic garden situated about 22 miles from Marrakech city center in the region of Tnine Ourika contains about 40 different species of medicinal and aromatic plants from the region. The production of these plants is strictly biological (no chemicals).

Our ground agent also aims to make a positive impact upon the environment and the local community in the area of the Atlas Mountains with the partnership of local associations. These associations have a non lucrative goal, and their objectives are:
• Promotion of schooling in the area
• Participation in the improvement of the infrastructure
• Participation in the development of agriculture in the area
• Sensitising and mobilisation of the inhabitants, especially young people and the rural woman
• Sensitising with the safeguarding of the natural resources.
• To come to assistance of the rural woman (to fight tale illiteracy, to improve its way of life).
• To level establishments of pre-school.

Their aim is to assist clients to actively participate in one of these associations local projects that will be of help to local people. Projects are numerous and could be integrated into an excursion day to the Atlas Mountains, this is very rewarding to each one of the participants.

As a company their policy is to use local suppliers, they will never ask a caterer from Marrakech or elsewhere to work in a village up in the mountain - they give this part of the business to locals that are trained to fulfil our standard of service.

Examples of CSR projects that they have already achieved:
- Sponsor of school building in the village of Agergour in the region of Asni (1 hour drive from Marrakech). The official opening of the school was done with clients and the local community.
- Sponsor of 2 incinerator buildings, to destroy garbage that is collected from the mountains by the locals in the village of Imlil. The day when the incinerators started functioning the participants built adobe walls to protect the structure. They had lunch in the village with local dignitaries.
- Charity: every year they manage to sponsor the buying of school bags (+/- 200 pieces) that are sent to local association for distribution.
- Olive tree planting

More project ideas which clients can participate in are:
• The building of a community hamman (bath house)
• The clearing and marking of paths for the mules to help villagers bring water or carry a burden.
• To equip the local schools for adult illiterates: tables, chairs….
• Building benches with cement and stones in the local schoolyard.
• Strengthening the local irrigation canal.