When disaster strikes, it takes more than aid to rebuild a community; it takes leadership, empathy, and vision. For Soukaina Koumani, a 2023/2024 CorpsAfrica/Maroc Volunteer, this was a personal call to action.
Soukaina joined CorpsAfrica driven by a passion for service and a desire to make a meaningful difference. When a devastating earthquake and severe drought disrupted life across rural Morocco, she knew she had to act. Assigned to the village of Anbdour, she quickly became a catalyst for change, working hand in hand with residents to build a solution rooted in sustainability and self-sufficiency.
A Project Born from Urgency and Vision
Anbdour’s community depends heavily on agriculture and livestock. But after the earthquake and months without rainfall, families struggled to afford basic livestock feed. This critical gap threatened not only food security but the community’s economic survival.
In response, Soukaina and the local community co-created the Alternative Feeds Project, centered on cultivating Azolla (a fast-growing aquatic fern) and sprouted barley, both affordable, nutritious, and sustainable alternatives to traditional feed.
Together, they formed an agricultural cooperative, launched training sessions for farmers, and began production. The goal: reduce feeding costs, improve animal health, and strengthen the community’s resilience.
Impact That Multiplied
The results were striking:
- Feed costs were reduced by 50%, easing the financial burden for local farmers.
- Steady income was generated through weekly sales, up to 1,680 MAD from Azolla and 875 MAD per barley cycle.
- The initiative directly involved 9 youth, including 1 full-time female employee, and created 15+ temporary jobs.
- Twelve families benefited from the cooperative’s success.
- The project laid a foundation for future expansion into dairy goat farming and cheese production, fostering even more job creation.
Soukaina also secured a key partnership with MBLA Morocco, which provided essential training and long-term support, ensuring the project’s sustainability.
“We no longer see ourselves as victims but as innovators who have built resilience and hope. This project has restored our dignity and sparked a vision for future growth,” said Abdelhamid, a resident of Anbdour.
Growth Through Service
For Soukaina, the experience was transformative.
“My CorpsAfrica service taught me resilience, teamwork, and how to lead with humility. I learned to listen deeply and work collaboratively to create real, lasting impact. It strengthened my confidence in community leadership and project management.”
Following her service, Soukaina continued her commitment to global service by joining Peace Corps Morocco as a Language and Culture Facilitator.
Her story is a powerful reminder that youth leadership, when rooted in community trust and supported with opportunity, can rebuild not just infrastructure, but dignity, hope, and futures.
