The Solar Village of Essaouira
LE PETIT OLIVIER & INTERMARKET
Discover the project on video
ESSAOUIRA SOLAR VILLAGE
Originally launched in 2017, the Solar Village is a rural electrification project in the village of Id Mjahdi, 20km from Essaouira in Morocco, created by Le Petit Olivier, Intermarché and local players. Recognized as the "1st solar village in Africa", it is now being transformed into a veritable third-location center around the argan tree, empowering women and their families:
CREATION OF THE IDMJAHDI SOLAR VILLAGE:Photovoltaic panels to provide solar lighting for 17 homes, and a traditional skills workshop for pulping and crushing argan nuts.
CREATION OF A PRE-SCHOOL AND A WATER TOWER
LAUNCH OF A TRAINING PROGRAM: For women residents.
INAUGURATION OF TREE NURSERY AND RESTAURANT
100% SELF-SUFFICIENCY income-generating PROJECT
The transformation of argan nuts into oil is listed as a UNESCO intangible world heritage site. Since 2017, a cooperative of 24 women at Village Solaire has been transmitting this precious know-how. In 2023, 2 other cooperatives will be created to develop ecotourism and sustainable agriculture. Today, Village Solaire markets products designed by the women.
Long-term commitment, prepayment of orders, and above-market remuneration as part of a fair trade approach.
An ancient tree, the argan tree helps combat soil erosion and can live in high temperatures. In recent years, Morocco's drought, increased grazing and over-exploitation of the trees have put the argan industry, which supports more than 3 million Moroccans, at risk. The argan tree is no longer the wild tree that grows in total autonomy in the forest, but needs to be protected from goats, replanted and irrigated according to good agroecological practices.
A nursery has been set up to replant up to 4,000 trees, as well as a permaculture garden within the Solar Village.
Rural entrepreneurship training
To make the Solar Village self-sufficient by 2025, the partners have chosen the NGO We Speak Citizen for its participative approach, which puts people at the heart of the project and helps to create a territorial dynamic. A training-action program is deployed on three levers: Agriculture, Ecotourism and Governance. At the same time, "creative leaders" are coached on their entrepreneurial projects.
Culture & Heritage:
We promote local heritage, culture and women's know-how: Le Village Solaire has forged partnerships with the Sucrerie d'Essaouira and the Essaouira Mogador Association.
Education:
The women of the argan cooperative benefit from a literacy program alongside their work. Their children thrive in the IdMjahdi pre-school. Drawings and toys are exchanged each year with the children of Petit Olivier employees.
Evaluation of project impact:
This approach has been put in place thanks to an evaluation of the project's impact in 2022 by assessing the fundamental and universal needs of the project's beneficiaries (Ethical Leadership © approach).
Loubna Mouna, Director of We Speak Citizen
