The Rotary Club of Marrakech-Majorelle, which is the host club in Morocco for the project. It is an all-women’s club, and they are a very active, engaged group with an excellent track record of pursuing impactful projects.
Presenting our vision of the project to the Rotary Club of Marrakesh-Majorelle. I’d never spoken this much French before.
Khadija El-Bourkadi, then-President of the Rotary Club of Marrakech-Majorelle, along with Omar Laafoura of Corps Africa-Maroc. We executed a Memorandum of Understanding between the groups, as the foundation of the project.
En route from Marrakech, over the High Atlas Mountains, to Ouarzazate. The “Tischka” pass is one of the crazier drives you’ll find.
Home sweet home, in Ait Daoud, now with a paved road, electricity, and even a town sign (none of which were there in the 90s). The irrigation ditch is on the right.
In the background is Mount Mgoun, the source of the water, which flows through the gorge shown behind us.
The irrigation ditch. The rocks shown are moved to block the flow of water, and channel the water laterally.
The water is channeled to the fields, for flood irrigation. The main staple crops are wheat, barley, and corn. Almonds are the local cash crop. Their figs are marvelous.
The river in the gorge is blocked with boulders, and diverted into the irrigation channel at the top of the picture. This is the start of the irrigation ditch.
