Orbis Impact Expeditions heads to the High Atlas Mountains in Morocco on an incredible education focused adventure.
ADVENTURE, TRAVEL, PURPOSE
13th-20th November 2023
£1,750 per person.
The Women’s Partnership Challenge- Morocco
Why is this trip for you
This expedition has so many highlights and really makes us tingle. Like every great Orbis Impact trip you have adventure, travel and purpose.
PURPOSE: Based in the High Atlas Mountains you will link up with the inspiring girls and staff from Education for All, learning more about how they are trying to support rural girls to stay education and the traditional Berber culture.
TRAVEL: Two nights spent in the hustle and bustle of Marrakech to discover the markets, culture, history and incredible food.
ADVENTURE: High Atlas Mountains staying in the beautifully restored Kasbah Du Toubkal, located within the Imlil Valley. Trail runs and an overnight trek into the mountains.
This women only trip is an incredible chance to learn more about life in the High Atlas Mountains, partner with an inspirational girls education organisation, trek in this stunning region of North Africa and get that tingly cultural burst of Marrakech.
Our 2022 team have just returned: Read their trip review
Highlights
Your stay in Marrakech- discovering the highlights and hidden gems- local style.
Arriving at the Imlil Valley and walking up to Kasbah Du Toubkal.
Village life and meeting the local Berber people.
Meeting the staff and students at the Education for All centres.
Using your skills, learning, collaborating and partnering with this inspiring organisation.
Trail running in the High Atlas and sleeping at the beautiful Azzaden Trekking Lodge.
Our 2023 adventure to Morocco is being led by Katherine Banner. Katherine travelled out to Morocco with Orbis on the 2022 Women’s Partnership Team.
Katherine Banner “I love the outdoors and will always be found hiking, rock climbing and on the sea. I run a private practice as a counsellor and psychotherapist specialising in high anxiety.”
The Purpose
Very few girls from rural communities in Morocco get the opportunity of continuing their education after primary school. To help tackle this, Education For All, a Moroccan NGO, is building and running girls’ boarding houses near secondary schools, so girls from rural families can continue their education.
Education For All (EFA)
Education For All (EFA) was established to help provide the opportunity of a secondary education for girls from the High Atlas mountain region. They build and run high-quality boarding houses for girls from 12–18. Everything is provided for free. They offer 3 nutritious meals a day, hot showers, cosy beds, access to computers, study support via an international volunteer programme and dedicated, local housemothers. The overall environment makes it easy for the girls to settle in and thrive in their studies. They have seen an average of 90% pass rate across all years and now have 50 EFA girls enrolled at university!
Your role
On Day 4/5 of your trip you will be spending time with an EFA guide and visiting a variety of the houses where the girls are based. There will be time to meet with the students and hopefully deliver some interactive activities, with themes around how to present yourself at interview, your career journey, female empowerment and general business. Before you travel we will have time to prepare some really fun activities and meet with EFA to find out more about what would be useful for the girls and staff. (In 2022 we ran activities on first aid, careers, listening skills and confidence building).
Sustainability: We really hope that the partnerships you make at EFA will lead to continued support and staying in touch with the organisation. There are opportunities for sponsorship and future volunteering within the organisation.
Further Information…
We try our best to include everything for your time in Morocco. The cost of the Women’s Partnership Expedition is £1,750 which includes all transport and guiding in Morocco, meals (accept lunch on day 1, 2), accommodation (twin sharing), bespoke activities and skill sharing activities. (Single supplement available at the Riad in Marrakech upon request: subject to availability)
International flights, drinks, visas, tips and items of a personal nature are excluded.
Payment: We try and offer really good payment plan options and advise re fundraising. To get your company or business involved in part-sponsorship of your expedition as a professional development opportunity please see further information here.
Maximum group size: 10 women.
Day 1: Arrive and transfer 20 mins from Marrakech airport to a riad in Marrakech. If we arrive early enough there will be an option to take a guided walk to acclimatise before a first night dinner at the riad.
Day 2: Morning guided tour, or an option to take a cycle tour- highly recommended- (est. £25) of the old Medina and Jmaa el Fna where snake charmers, storytellers, acrobats, medicine men and musicians compete for your attention. A great chance to explore the markets, buy some gifts and soak up the culture. Lunch at a restaurant of your choice or your Orbis guide will choose a great local place to all meet.
Day 3: Leisurely departure and a 90 minute journey to the High Atals Mountains and the Imlil Valley. Settle into the beautiful Kasbah du Toubkal (1800m). Introductory walk and hopefully meet up with some of the girls from EFA. Kasbah Du Toubkal
Day 4/5: Day spent at the Education for All houses. Meeting the girls, delivering some interactive acrtivities and learning about this incredible organisation. A true highlight of the trip Kasbah Du Toubkal
Day 6: Rise early and trek 4-6 hrs into the Azzanden Valley, stopping on route for a picnic lunch. Overnight at the simple but stunning Azzanden Lodge. (Shared basic accommodation)
Day 7: Descend back to Kasbah and meet up with the EFA girls for lunch and a walk together as a group. A great chance to build on the relationships from Day 4/5. Kasbah Du Toubkal
Day 8: Depart for International Flight
This is simply a meeting of minds, social communication from one culture to another, which is brilliantly inspiring, it is a way to raise each other up. To be empowered and inspired by the strength an courage of others
— Kate Webb (Owner Orbis Expeditions)
