youthempowerment – AFCD Foundation

My Journey with TIMGHARIN: Empowering Moroccan Artisans

Nouh Bahadda — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 09:28:05 +0000

I never imagined that I would find myself on this incredible journey of entrepreneurship and empowerment. Hi, I’m Oumaima Nouali, and I’d like to share with you the heartwarming story of TIMGHARIN, a project that I’m humbly proud to be a part of. It all began with the LLAB one-year program, a collaboration between the AFCD Foundation and the US Embassy in Morocco, designed to bring budding entrepreneurial ideas to life. Little did I know that this journey would become a life-changing experience.

TIMGHARIN is not just a business idea; it’s a mission close to my heart. Our project centres around a digital e-shop platform that promotes the incredible handcrafted and artisanal products made primarily by talented female artisans in Morocco, particularly those in rural areas. The rich Moroccan heritage in arts and crafts is something I wanted to showcase to the world.

Winning the subgrant for TIMGHARIN was a surreal moment for me. The competition was fierce, filled with brilliant ideas and passionate individuals. I couldn’t have done it without the unwavering support of my family and friends, who never doubted my abilities. Their belief in me was my rock, especially during moments of self-doubt.

The journey was filled with ups and downs, but it was my determination and belief in the project that kept me going. I knew the potential impact TIMGHARIN could have on the lives of countless artisans. With this digital platform, we aimed to bridge the gap between these talented artisans and a global audience, providing them with the recognition and financial support they rightly deserve.

Today, TIMGHARIN is more than just an idea; it’s in the implementation phase, thanks to the invaluable support of the AFCD Foundation team and the US Embassy in Morocco. We’re slowly but surely turning this dream into a reality, empowering female artisans and preserving Morocco’s rich cultural heritage.

My journey with TIMGHARIN is a testament to the power of determination, unwavering support, and the belief that even a single idea can make a profound impact. I may be just starting my career, but TIMGHARIN has already become a turning point that I’ll forever cherish. The path ahead is promising, and I can’t wait to see how TIMGHARIN will change the lives of these artisans and contribute to our cultural heritage. Thank you for being a part of this incredible journey with me.

Oumaima Nouali

Journey of Success: My Grant-Winning Experience with the Leadership Lab Program

Nouh Bahadda — Thu, 21 Sep 2023 12:39:48 +0000

In the realm of leadership and entrepreneurship, every step counts, and every opportunity seized can be a turning point in one’s journey. In this blog, I am thrilled to share my incredible journey as the grant winner of the Leadership Lab program—a pivotal chapter in my path to success.

It all began with a burning passion for design, personal branding, business, and a relentless pursuit of my dreams. I embarked on this journey back in December 2022 when I leaped to follow my heart and embrace design not just as a profession but as a way of life. Little did I know that this decision would lead to a series of transformative experiences.

One of the most significant milestones on this journey was being selected for the Leadership Lab program, a remarkable initiative by the AFCD Foundation and the US Embassy in Morocco. This program allowed me to collaborate with like-minded individuals and exceptional mentors who shared my enthusiasm for entrepreneurship.

Our journey within the Leadership Lab was marked by dedication, innovation, and unwavering determination. Together with my talented teammates, we not only honed our skills but also emerged as the grant winners of the program. This achievement was a testament to the power of teamwork, creativity, and sheer hard work. But that was just the beginning. As a grant winner and the project manager of our startup, which began with the name Chaghaf but has now changed to Brandmark, this role allowed me to contribute to something larger than myself, shaping the future of personal branding in the sports industry in Morocco.

Throughout this journey, I’ve strived to be transparent and authentic, sharing the ups and downs, the victories, and the lessons learned along the way. It’s been a thrilling adventure, one filled with inspiration, mentorship, and countless moments of growth.

As I stand at this juncture, I’m more motivated than ever to continue sharing my experiences and insights. My commitment to design, entrepreneurship, and self-development remains unwavering.

In conclusion, my journey as the grant winner of the Leadership Lab program has been nothing short of remarkable. It’s a testament to the fact that with passion, perseverance, and the right opportunities, you can achieve your dreams.

Bader El Fellah

What is entrepreneurship : Lessons Learned at the Moroccan American Leadership Forum

Nouh Bahadda — Tue, 04 Apr 2023 13:56:30 +0000

What is entrepreneurship?

Entrepreneurship is simply having the ability to decide what you work on for yourself, instead of being told what you work on for others.” I naively said this three weeks ago, before being admitted to the Leadership Lab program and having the opportunity to attend the Moroccan American Leadership Forum, which was implemented by the US Embassy in partnership with the AFCD foundation in Marrakech from December 8th to December 11th.

Over these four days of training, I learned the most valuable lessons that changed my entire perspective on leadership, networking, and overall entrepreneurship.

The leadership lab program Day 1 and 2

Days 1 and 2 of the program were divided into 3 sessions during which we had the opportunity to form teams and get introduced to the US embassy representatives, elected officials, and community leaders. This event allowed me to sense the real leadership spirit in each one of the AFCD team members, starting from the founder Mr. Akaya Kamal to every other team member. It changed my definition of leadership from being based mainly on getting people to work for you and help you achieve your goals to dedicating time, knowledge, and taking actions to inspire, empower, and serve others in order to grow together and make a great impact in this community.

The leadership lab program day 3&4

On the third day, we had workshops during which we worked on ideating, finalizing the business idea, and defining each of our strengths. This allowed me to understand that networking goes beyond attending events to meet people from whom you can benefit. It’s a skill that requires one to invest time in building lasting two-way relationships where all parties give and receive. One should not always look for the commonalities between them and others in order to connect, but rather appreciate the differences that make each one of us special and put them together to create meaningful and strong bonds.

As for the last day, we had the chance to attend the greatest conference, run by the brilliant Ben Mier Youssef. During this conference, he had us questioning the meaning of entrepreneurship and digging in for a deeper and greater sense of it. I confidently say that “Entrepreneurship is solving a problem you understand for people you understand… It’s having the impact you want on the world, the way you want to have it.”

With that said, I believe that the Moroccan American Leadership Forum was an enlightening start to a long learning journey in which we will be working alongside great leaders and mentors to finally create the change we want, the way we want.

Kaoutar Boulahna.