The Tighza Project (and Village Association)

We aim to be as sustainable as possible and help, not dictate to local people. We are too small to be a registered charity but we do a lot of project work in the villages of Tighza. We work alongside the Tighza Village Association, for 10 years we worked with Baraka Community Partnerships (a registered charity who are now concentrating their efforts more now in other developing countries but still have a strong relationship with the village.  The plan was always that the village should become self sustainable) and we are continuing to work with Exodus. The villages contribute what they can afford fundwise, labour and food for the workers, while the remaining funding comes from local tourism and visitors to Tighza who feel compelled to help out. In addition money earned by the Homestays, helps the host families to pay for making alterations or repairs to homes, medical expenses as well as every day living costs. At Riad Kasbah Oliver it is also possible to support women and children through buying local craft items made by villagers. If you would like a local carpet (much cheaper than buying from middle men) ask Mohamed.

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By coming on a Homestay or Riad Kasbah Oliver holiday you can aid the local community to support themselves.

• We shop locally and use local village produce as much as possible

• Generate income locally for villagers

• Use local services i.e. mules, village minibus and taxis

• We try to get 5 litre bottles of water which are reused to collect drinking water. Even 1.5 litre bottles are reused by villagers. Reducing plastic waste. 

• We encourage regular trekkers and travellers to bring water treatment tablets or purchase water filtration products rather than purchasing plastic bottled water.  Many similar systems are available including the StrawForLife to name just one we are familiar with.  This allows travellers to drink out of any of the water sources, lake, tap water and so on.  (Tap Water is safe to brush your teeth directly if just brushing and swilling out)

• Vegetable waste is fed to the livestock

• Waste material from the animals is taken out onto the small fields and used as fertiliser

• Meat waste is given to cats and dogs in the village

• Bread is left to harden and distributed to local shepherds to feed their dogs

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In 2012 we won the Trophee du Maroc Tourism Responsable for our projects with Exodus and Baraka Community partnerships.

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2019
Improvements were made to classrooms at the local school.

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We are hoping to raise more money for the learning room for the older ladies empowering them to manage their households and enjoy the benefits that reading and writing can give them.  They are currently taught by the Imam's wife.

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Irrigation channel replacements continues, locating a new water source is also a key issue due to low rainfall over the last few years.  The replacement of current narrow water pipes has not happened as yet as it is awaiting government approval.

Clothing distribution continues as with every year to those in need.

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2018
The hammam floor was replaced to improve heat efficiency and fuel economy.
Visiting health professionals came to the village in July 2018.  An educational contingent also visited in late 2018 and provided wood burners for the classrooms and wellington boots for the children.
The Village Association are now responsible for funding operations through donations made to the association and money generated by the village hammam once expenses have been taken into consideration.

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2017
The village hammam was opened to visitors on certain days. 
A severe storm (now classed as a natural disaster) battered the South of Morocco 21-23 November 2014.  From March 2015, with help from volunteer groups and individual travelers, around 400 meters of irrigation channels, several bridges and channels by houses were cleared, strengthened and rebuilt with more permanent structures.

The preschool classroom was completed thanks to volunteer groups who came over the Summer 2015, 2016 and 2017.

A Belgian charity built a new toilet block for the school.

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The Moroccan Government paid for a village woman to teach 36 of the village older ladies to read, write and life skills. 

"You educate the women, you educate the village".

Medical operations
Thanks to donations made to Baraka Community Partnerships 19 life changing medical operations took place 4 hernia operations (3 on young boys), 4 goiter ops 1 on a young man in his early 20s another on a young mum of 1 who had multiple goiters, 7 Cataract surgeries; 2 on elderly ladies, 3 Gall stone operations. (Funding for operations is split between what the family of the patient can afford and other funding available through the Tighza projects).

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