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Moroccan initiatives unite to improve sanitation and education for rural girls

Tuesday 17 June 2025 - 15:20
Moroccan initiatives unite to improve sanitation and education for rural girls
By: Dakir Madiha
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Three Moroccan-led organizations—Women in Tech Morocco, Kiwi Collecte, and Green Watech—have partnered to address a critical yet often overlooked barrier to girls' education in rural Morocco: inadequate sanitation. Their pilot project, based at Dar Talibate Tassoultante, a boarding school for girls, aims to install an ecological wastewater treatment system, improving hygiene, health, and academic retention.

Tackling sanitation for better education

Dar Talibate Tassoultante, located in a rural area, has long suffered from poor wastewater infrastructure, exposing students to illness and discomfort that often lead to absenteeism and high dropout rates. The project, led entirely by women, seeks to create a sustainable solution by installing a low-cost, off-grid wastewater treatment system developed by Green Watech. Using local materials and expertise, the system requires no electricity and will provide cleaner, safer conditions for the school’s 100 female students.

A collaborative effort led by women

The initiative brings together the unique strengths of its partners. Green Watech offers technical innovation, Kiwi Collecte powers the fundraising campaign, and Women in Tech Morocco provides a gender-focused approach. Together, the organizations are delivering not just infrastructure but a message of solidarity and shared responsibility.

Sarah Jaidi, CEO of Kiwi Collecte, emphasized the importance of community action. Kiwi Collecte’s crowdfunding campaign calls on local donors and the Moroccan diaspora to contribute, highlighting that even $10 can make a tangible difference. Contributions go directly to funding the wastewater station at Tassoultante, with the hope that the project’s success will inspire similar interventions at other Dar Taliba schools nationwide.

A broader problem with far-reaching impact

The sanitation crisis in rural Morocco is dire. Only 45% of domestic wastewater is treated safely, and over half of the rural population lacks adequate wastewater systems. This affects nearly 15 million Moroccans across 32,000 villages, leading to contaminated drinking water, environmental degradation, and significant public health risks. The resulting school absenteeism disproportionately impacts girls, further widening gender gaps in education.

Dar Talibate Tassoultante was selected for this pilot because of its acute needs. Once operational, the system will not only provide better sanitation but also protect local water supplies and reduce the school’s environmental impact.

More than just infrastructure

The project’s benefits extend beyond improving sanitation. Healthier school environments will help keep girls in education, while the initiative also creates local jobs and promotes environmental sustainability. If funding permits, the team plans to add a final treatment layer to the system, enabling recycled water to be used for irrigation, which could foster biodiversity and sustainability around the school.

Organizers hope that the success of this pilot will pave the way for similar projects across Morocco, creating long-term solutions for rural communities. The campaign remains live on Kiwi Collecte’s platform, with all contributions—no matter how small—helping to secure brighter futures for Morocco’s rural girls.


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