19e édition - du 14 au 29 mars 2009
Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles
La référence féminine depuis 1990
Sustainable Development
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1ST ECO-CARAVAN
NEW PROJECT IN 2011: 1st HEART OF GAZELLES / GREENWATCHERS ENVIRONMENTAL CARAVAN
Heart of Gazelles joins GREENWATCHERS, a consumer association promoting the changing of consumer habits. 
OBSERVATION:
For Moroccans, the ubiquitous "Mika Kahla" black plastic bag is a part of daily life. It is the bag that is always given for carrying their purchases when they go shopping – a seemingly harmless gesture with deplorable consequences. Used for only a few minutes, they then take over 300 years to degrade.
With 26 billion plastic bags, Morocco is the 2nd-largest consumer of plastic bags in the world.
On average, every citizen uses 9 kg of bags per year! The villages visited by Heart of Gazelles are polluted by thousands of plastic bags that are dangerous for humans, animals and the environment.
Under the reign of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Morocco is taking significant steps to protect the environment.
Princess Lalla Hasna, President of the Mohammed VI Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, launched 7 projects aimed at preserving the environment during the Earth Summit in Rabat on April 24th, 2012.
One of these projects is the banning of plastic shopping bags in Morocco, as of January 1st, 2011.
In addition to visual pollution (which has a negative effect on tourism), this plastic bag is dangerous:
- For humans: These bags are commonly used to store food in the refrigerator. Enclosed in this airtight wrapper, fresh products will ferment and develop toxins that put the lives of the consumers at risk.
- For the environment: Every bag takes 300 to 400 years to degrade... but even then they never completely disappear. Plastic molecules will remain in the environment forever.
In addition, they are indestructible – in contact with fire, they release highly toxic substances. The Moroccan waste system is not equipped to destroy or recycle them.
- For animals: Goats are the most affected, as they often attempt to eat the bags and choke on them. Rural families suffer a significant loss of food and income.
- For health: the black plastic bags are scattered across cultivated fields, souks and alleyways, providing a breeding space for bacteria. The often block sewer systems.
Changing the way people think:
In Morocco, the "Mika Kahla" has an important social function.
- Its black colour provides the discretion desired by consumers – "I don't want the neighbours to know what I bought for dinner..."
- It corresponds to the new consumer habit of shopping whenever one feels like it. The more cumbersome wicker basket has met with very little success in Morocco.
Observation: Casablanca's largest department store gives out 500,000 bags every day.
This project supports the initiative launched by the Moroccan government.
Putting the reputation of the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles and its close relationship with the local Moroccan populations to good use, an environmental awareness caravan was organized during the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles from March 22 to 31, 2011.
This caravan visited 8 remote villages in the most southern part of Morocco, accessible only by several hours of trail or off-road driving.
The caravan:
- explained the negative effects of using plastic bags: a health risk for consumers, dangerous for animals (which are an important source of revenue for rural populations), visual pollution and its economic impact on tourism, pollution of ground water…
- encouraged people to stop using these bags and to replace them with eco-friendly cloth bags (to make the transition from "disposable to sustainable")
At the end of the workshop, every participant was given a canvas shopping bag along with a document summarizing the information provided.
2500 adults and 700 children attended the caravan.
The following villages received a visit from the caravan:
- Thursday March 24: TAFROUKHT
- Friday March 25: OUKHIT
- Saturday March 26: MERJANE
- Sunday March 27: KHEMILIA
- Monday March 28: IGHIT NIGHIR
- Tuesday March 29: TIRAF
- Wednesday March 30: IBEYD
- Thursday March 31: MHIMIMA
Thanks to Pierre Japhet, Mathieu Bergerot and Moha for their excellent work!
We are now preparing the 2nd edition, for 2012! Sincere thanks to all of our supporters...
ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER
Over a billion human beings live with inadequate access to clean water.
One of the objectives defined by the Earth Summit was to reduce this number by half by the year 2015.
In line with this plan, and to meet a real need, Heart of Gazelles, in collaboration with La Poste, decided to construct a well for 25 Nomad families (about 70 people).
In the Foum Zguid region, in the heart of the Moroccan desert, it is difficult for the nomads to obtain enough water to meet their daily needs and those of their livestock.
We felt that it was essential to construct a well close to their homes, in order to spare these families from long walks every day loaded down with heavy containers of water.
The well:
For whom?
Building a well in the Foum Zguid region has provided clean drinking water for all of the Nomad families living in and around this area. Previously, these 25 families had to walk 2 km to the nearest water source. In addition to improving their general living conditions, the new well has had a significant positive impact on health and sanitation, as the families are now able to enjoy a higher standard of personal hygiene.
With what resources?
The well was dug by hand by 2 paid workers, to a depth of about 7 metres.
Fresh water was found at this depth.
To ensure the safety of children and animals, a metre-high wall was built around the well.
The well is being maintained by the Nomads.
This well was financed by La Poste.
A WELL IN DAR KAOUA
We felt that it was essential to construct a well close to their homes, in order to spare these families from long walks every day loaded down with heavy containers of water.
Building a well in the Dar Kaoua region has provided clean drinking water for all of the Nomad families living in and around Neijakh and for their livestock. Previously, these 25 families had to walk 4 km to the nearest water source. In addition to improving their general living conditions, the new well has had a significant positive impact on health and sanitation, as the families are now able to enjoy a higher standard of personal hygiene.
This well, financed by SUEZ Environnement, was dug by hand in the traditional way by 3 paid workers.
Fresh water was found at a depth of about 5 metres. To ensure the safety of children and animals, a metre-high wall was built around the well. The well is being looked after by the villagers of Dar Kaoua.
A WELL IN BAHLOU
The creation of a well in the Taouz region provided clean drinking water for some 30 Nomad families.
This well, financed by SUEZ Environnement, was dug by hand in the traditional way by 2 paid workers.
The well is being looked after by the Nomads.
RAISING CHILDREN'S AWARENESS
NEW PROJECT IN 2011 for the Merzouga and Tamsguidat schools and their 160 students.
On April 24th, 2010, the celebration of the 40th Earth Day in Rabat was the occasion for Morocco to solidify its commitment to environmental protection and sustainable development.
In the interest of providing more widespread education about the environment, and knowing that more than 60% of Morocco's population is under 18, Heart of Gazelles decided to take part in a national environmental project by creating a "green space" within the grounds of the two schools.
The creation of these green spaces while teaching students about environmental and ecological issues provided an opportunity for raising students' awareness and providing them with a better understanding of their future.
Through fun activities, the project organizers emphasized the importance of eradicating plastic bags and promoted eco-friendly alternatives (canvas bags).
On March 24th, 2011, Heart of Gazelles inaugurated, at each school,
- a school yard
- a green space (within the school grounds – mature trees and upkeep for 3 years)
A workshop on environmental issues was held for the children and their parents.
All participating students were given a plant and a diploma.
This project is sponsored by SUEZ ENVIRONMENT Group.
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