By OLGA CALONGE.-Director of ADRA Spain
The small village of Imi Noguerzi, located at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, is just 13 kilometers from the epicenter of the devastating 6.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Morocco on September 8. In this village, ADRA Spain has led a new project to build temporary prefabricated shelters capable of housing 54 families and around 200 people.
Developed in collaboration with the local non-profit organization Al Ofoq, this project is part of the second project phase, implemented by ADRA Spain in Morocco, to improve the living conditions of those affected by the earthquake.
But this project goes much further. It is also training and employing local construction workers like Addi, who see these trades as a new opportunity to redirect their careers after the earthquake.
Addi was one of the first to receive a temporary shelter in the neighboring village of Idni, where ADRA Spain has also intervened in recent months. There, he participated in the construction of the shelters and has since been part of this vocational training program, where mentors provide technical support and certify their training during the development of the works.
In total, 10 young people from the area have been able to participate in the training. Their goal is to obtain an official certification that will open doors for them to continue working in the Atlas region on similar projects for the temporary reconstruction of villages. Likewise, it is expected that another group of 10 young people will continue to receive training with the local organization Al Ofoq in the coming months. This strategic redistribution of apprentices ensures that more participants could benefit from the project without compromising the quality of their training.
ADRA Spain emphasizes the importance of collaborating with local partners like Al Ofoq, who are familiar with the target communities and maintain relationships with regional authorities. During these months of joint work with Al Ofoq, this non-profit organization has played a key role in facilitating access, understanding community dynamics, and ensuring that interventions in affected communities were culturally and contextually appropriate.
The ADRA Spain team, led by Daniel Abad and Marta Ayuso, recently visited the completion of the works in Imi Noguerzi and supervised the progress of the final details of this project, which is expected to be inaugurated by the end of April.
They have also explained to the 54 families who will live in the new shelters that they also have access to a complaints box in an accessible location within the village and an email address to report any deficiencies or complaints they may detect in their new homes.
Livestock Distribution
In February, the ADRA Spain team also coordinated two new deliveries of goat livestock for the Berber populations of the area. In total, 375 animals were distributed among 75 families who lost their livestock activity due to the earthquake. Each of the beneficiary shepherds received five animals (one male and four females) and 160 kilograms of alfalfa and fodder with which they will be able to feed the livestock for two months.
