Kate's blog
We are excited to let you know that the Moroccan American Cultural Center has initiated a $5,000 matching challenge grant for HAF. Through September 20th every dollar you donate or pledge will be matched up to $5,000! You can make a secure donation online, fill out a pledge form, or send us a check.
Do you live in Morocco? HAF is registered as a local association in Morocco and accepts donations in-country. Please contact us at haf@highatlasfoundation.org to learn more about making a donation in Morocco.
AND if you still need an incentive to give, all donors who give $250 or more are invited to join HAF’s Founders' Circle – a core group of over forty individuals (and growing!) who are committed to supporting HAF’s mission. As a token of our appreciation, we’ll send you a signed copy of The Butter Man – a children’s story set in the High Atlas Mountains.
Read a letter from HAF's President about the challenge and his recent trip to Morocco
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
On the evening of June 1st, Moroccan Ambassador to the US, H.E. Aziz Mekouar, and Mrs. Maria Felice Mekouar hosted a sit down dinner for thirty High Atlas Foundation supporters. High Atlas Foundation President, Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir, and Country Director, Kate McLetchie, were joined by Board Members, Sir Charles Dahan, Barbara Balaj, and Talal Belrhiti. We were delighted that former US Ambassador to Morocco, Mr. Marc Ginsberg, and Mrs. Janet Ginsberg were able to join us, along with HAF major donors Mrs. Julie Walters Rose, and Mr. and Mrs. Cary Greene.
Ambassador Mekouar began the evening by highlighting HAF's accomplishment of planting 150,000 fruit trees, and the impact such a project has on rural Moroccan families. After presenting the organization's mission for advancing rural socio-economic development in Morocco, Dr. Ben-Meir described HAF's newest project to raise $75,000 to train six graduate students at Hassan II University-Mohammedia in participatory development skills and implement community designed projects for over 2,000 beneficiaries. During their training, students will "learn by doing" and will work with local villages to practice their new skills and implement priority development projects, including those in fruit tree agriculture, irrigation,clean drinking water, women's cooperatives, and youth programs (the $75,000 fundraising goal allows for a budget to cover these project implementation costs).
At the evening's end, Ambassador Ginsberg committed his support to HAF's work and encouraged others to join him and do the same. We would also like to welcome Ambassador Ginsberg to HAF's Advisory Board, where he will join Ambassador Mekouar and eleven other distinguished individuals. We are grateful to have had this opportunity to showcase HAF's work, and look forward to doing it again soon.
Join the High Atlas Foundation for spring happy hours in DC (May 29th) and NYC (June 4th). Hear the latest updates from the field, get a sneak peak at HAF's newest initiatives - including grassroots fundraising and youth outreach programs, and enjoy complimentary Moroccan appetizers with new and old friends.
Please RSVP to kate@highatlasfoundation.org to let us know if you will be joining us in DC or NYC.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Washington, DC
Friday, May 29th, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Casablanca Restaurant
1504 King Street, Old Town, Alexandria
Two blocks from King Street Metro & free parking available
**Drink Specials** $5 beer & wine - $6.50 cocktails
New York City
Thursday, June 4th, 6:00pm-8:00pm
Zerza Mediterrano
308 East 6th Street (note new address...just a few doors down from original location)
Subway: 6 to Astor Place, N and R to 8th Street, or F to Houston & 1st Ave.
HAF's NYC team is hard at work putting together a series of networking, fundraising, and outreach events for the coming months. Their goal is to connect HAF fans and supporters to Morocco related cultural and artistic events already happening in NYC, as well as create our own inspirational gatherings to inform you of HAF's latest projects and how you can get involved. We will keep you updated as plans unfold, and in the meantime thought to share with you this film being shown this weekend in NYC.
Ordinary Boys, directed by Daniel Hernandez, is part of the New Directors New Films series and gives a snapshot of the contemporary struggles facing Morocco's youth.
In the small Moroccan village that was home to many of those responsible for Spain's 2004 terrorist attacks, two young men and a young woman struggle to make ends meet. Although Rabia studied law, her only work option is as a seamstress, a job which she hopes to parlay into owning her own shop. Khader is an aspiring actor who pals around with Youseff, a small-time crook with a bum leg and a missing brother. While they try to figure out ways to get some cash, Youseff searches for clues to his brother's whereabouts. Documentary filmmaker Daniel Hernandez's slice-of-life drama paints a portrait of regular people with simple desires and examines how the specter of infamy casts a pall over simple dreams and aspirations.
Screenings at:
Film Society of Lincoln Center: Saturday, April 4th at 6:30 p.m.
Museum of Modern Art: Sunday, April 5th at 1:30 p.m.
We hope you'll have time to see the film, and please leave a comment to let us know what you thought of it!
Making its debut just in time for Earth Day on April 22nd and Arbor Day on April 24th, HAF's Teacher Toolkit is an innovative way to introduce Moroccan geography and culture, volunteerism, and environmental awareness to children in grades one through six.
The program includes interactive lessons, a tree planting activity, and grassroots fundraising to plant "sister" trees in Morocco.
