Sidi Kaouki (Essaouira Province) – Nestled in the commune of Sidi Kaouki, within the province of Essaouira, the company "Hafida & Family", which specialises in organising daily workshops on the production process of argan oil and the preparation of traditional dishes, fully embodies the unwavering commitment of the National Initiative for Human Development (INDH) to promoting the economic empowerment of rural women.
Combining originality, authenticity, and passion, this women-led structure was founded by Hafida Boutarga, a young woman from the Douar Taghanimine, who, after obtaining her university degree, chose the path of entrepreneurship to put her knowledge and expertise at the service of promoting and transmitting local heritage and the ancestral know-how of rural women in this part of the country.
Operational since 2021, "Hafida & Family", which benefited from financial support from the INDH for its launch, welcomes daily groups of tourists, both foreign and domestic, in search of a unique immersion in the heart of the authentic traditions of the rural world, by offering them interactive workshops allowing them to discover the various stages of the artisanal production of argan oil.
In parallel, the company offers an interactive Amazigh cooking workshop, allowing visitors to learn about local gastronomy by participating in the preparation of iconic traditional dishes such as tajine and couscous, among others.
Beyond its tourist vocation, "Hafida & Family" also aims to contribute to the socio-economic development of Sidi Kaouki by creating employment opportunities for rural women to improve their income, while working to transmit ancestral know-how and preserve local traditions.
In a statement to MAP, Hafida Boutarga indicated that this women-led structure is distinguished by its "original offer" which proposes a stimulating and immersive activity, where participants, often guests in inns and guesthouses across the province, have the opportunity to fully immerse themselves in the local culture.
"This interactive experience allows visitors not only to enrich their knowledge of age-old know-how but also to exchange with rural women who share, with passion, their expertise and their history," she noted, expressing her gratitude to the INDH for "its precious support which was crucial for the effective launch of this ambitious project."
Furthermore, she shared her ambition to further develop this activity by diversifying the workshops offered and strengthening the training of the women involved, in order to sustain and enrich this "beautiful human and entrepreneurial adventure," inviting, in this vein, young girls and rural women to fully seize the opportunities offered by entrepreneurship and crafts to ensure their financial autonomy and contribute to the development of their communities.
For her part, Ouissal Ait Gouzoult, representative of the "Improving Income and Economic Inclusion of Young People" programme at the Social Action Division (DAS) of the prefecture of the province of Essaouira, stressed that this women-led structure, which benefited from the support of the INDH for the acquisition of necessary equipment, is a successful model of promoting female entrepreneurship and valuing local know-how, thus contributing to the economic empowerment of rural women at the provincial level.
Recalling that the Initiative pays particular attention to strengthening the capacities of young people and women, by accompanying them through training, financing, and technical supervision programmes, she encouraged young rural women to be inspired by initiatives like "Hafida & Family", which "perfectly illustrate the positive impact of social entrepreneurship on local development and economic inclusion."
The commitment of the INDH to this project and other similar initiatives testifies to its determination to actively support the socio-economic development of the province of Essaouira, while working to strengthen the empowerment of women and preserve local heritage.
Proof of this is that, within the framework of its third programme, the INDH has supported the creation of more than 180 companies and provided financial support to more than 75 cooperatives and start-ups operating in the field of social and solidarity economy between 2019 and 2024 at the provincial level, for a total investment estimated at 97.1 million dirhams, according to data from the DAS.
This article INDH in Essaouira: "Hafida & Family", a women-led structure dedicated to the promotion of ancestral gastronomic know-how first appeared on MAP Express.
