The Hand in Hand Association of Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane recently organised the 18th edition of Fun Run in Ifrane. This unmissable event, which takes place in the month of April each year, aims to collect the funds necessary for the realisation of projects for the benefit of precarious populations.

To encourage schooling in rural areas, Hand in Hand is attempting this year, via its Fun Run formula, to collect enough funds to finance the rehabilitation and upgrading of three primary schools in the Ifrane region (Ait Lahcen, Bensmim, and Zaouia), which aims to promote entrepreneurship among rural women in favour of participatory human development.

Thanks to an elaborate strategy, based mainly on personalised work with the most generous donor segments, and the contribution of Al Akhawayn University of Ifrane alumni, the association succeeded this year in collecting a sum of approximately 1,111,000 DH. A significant amount, according to those in charge, which will allow the association to finance projects already started or priority projects for this year.

The charitable works of the association essentially concern Ifrane and its regions and focus on the social aspect in rural areas. Notably on the extension and rehabilitation of schools, the financing of women's cooperatives, equipment for electricity and central heating thanks to solar energy installations in schools, pumping and supply of drinking water by means of wind turbines, and the distribution of firewood in winter to meet the needs of precarious categories and fight against deforestation in the region.

Furthermore, to allow students to develop their leadership skills, the Leadership Development Institute of Al Akhawayn University organises an annual competition that aims to reward the best leader of the year. Thus, to celebrate leadership skills in the vicinity of the University, the said Institute organises this event every year aimed at rewarding pioneering leadership achievements in the associative framework operating in the cities of Ifrane, Azrou, and Meknes.

It should be noted that the Hand in Hand Association, created in 1996, aims, among other things, to promote schooling in rural areas through the distribution of bicycles and school bags, in addition to five school transport buses, without forgetting to reconcile the destitute populations of Ifrane and its region. These actions are carried out thanks to the help provided by students, teachers, University staff, and national sponsors, but also in collaboration with the prefecture of Ifrane. The objective is to contribute to improving the daily lives of needy families in the region.