Amidst the harsh cold wave sweeping the mountainous Azilal province, the centre provides a warm refuge for those struggling with life's difficulties and facing the harshness of the cold winter.
Through this structure, the National Initiative for Human Development (NIHD), a pioneer in protecting vulnerable individuals, works to preserve the dignity of these individuals and give them hope for reintegration and the possibility of a new chance in life within society.
The Azilal centre, with its social and humanitarian character, came into being thanks to the Initiative and its social partners, offering beneficiaries various services including accommodation and food, meeting their basic needs.
Within this space, which stands as a regional model embodying solidarity in all its manifestations, dozens of people find a refuge and an ideal living space to reorganise their lives, and even a haven that provides them with comprehensive support meeting their basic needs, whether medical, nutritional, or psychological.
Every aspect of the daily lives of this segment of society is taken care of, making it a suitable environment for recovery, stability, and internal security for every resident.
The head of the Social Action Department in Azilal, Issam Benassou, confirmed in a statement to the Moroccan News Agency (MAP) that this centre, established as part of the third phase of the National Initiative for Human Development, specifically the programme to support vulnerable individuals, primarily aims to support and assist people in difficult situations, especially the homeless. He noted that the establishment of this project cost a financial envelope of nearly 3 million dirhams to provide a suitable environment for the residents.
Mr. Benassou highlighted that the centre, built in partnership with a local association that manages it, is committed to providing comprehensive social, medical, and psychological support that meets the immediate needs of vulnerable individuals. He pointed out that the centre becomes a vital space for the homeless during cold wave periods due to the low temperatures in this mountainous province.
For his part, the president of the "Noor Association" for the protection of the homeless in Azilal, Hicham Ahrar, indicated that the centre has a large capacity for overnight stays for men and women, a kitchen, bathrooms, sanitary facilities, and several rooms to ensure the comfort of residents. He affirmed that the association managing the centre continues its field interventions to transfer individuals facing difficulties from the streets to the centre.
He added that the centre pays special attention to the psychological stability of residents and their physical safety, within a humanitarian and solidarity framework that fully aligns with the priorities of the third phase of the National Initiative for Human Development, which aims to improve the living conditions of the most vulnerable groups.
Following the great success achieved by the first and second phases of the National Initiative for Human Development, the third phase of this ambitious royal project is moving towards a new vision full of hope, based on four coherent and integrated programmes.
It is worth noting that the National Initiative for Human Development targets all social groups, especially those in difficult situations, according to a vision aimed at achieving equity and equal opportunities, with the goal of reducing social and spatial disparities at the national level, within a participatory approach based on good governance and management.
