About Us

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We believe that all people should have the agency, opportunities, and resources to work toward creating the future they want for themselves and with their communities.

Why We Focus on Morocco

A Moroccan association and U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the High Atlas Foundation was founded in 2000 by former Peace Corps volunteers committed to furthering sustainable development in Morocco. Their love of the Moroccan people and culture, and local communities’ vast potential to generate shared prosperity, are driving forces behind our work.

By providing a structured pathway toward the implementation of Morocco’s vision for sustainable development, we are able to collaborate with government officials on the local, regional, and national level. Morocco is the ideal place for piloting programs that can be scaled and applied to broader contexts in the MENA region and beyond.

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Values

We believe that all people should have the agency, opportunities, and resources to work toward creating the future they want for themselves and their communities.

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Community

We believe in the power of community-led sustainability projects to strengthen social ecosystems and unite people to create lasting prosperity for Morocco, the MENA region, and the world.

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Women’s Empowerment

We place women’s empowerment at the center of our agricultural projects, supporting pathways to social and economic well-being.

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Sustainable Development

We believe in the stability of nature-based solutions. In order to be truly sustainable, communities must take the lead to develop, maintain, and expand their success.

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An Invitational Approach

Our sustainable development projects begin with an invitation from the community — every time. We believe that communities are the experts on their unique context.

Collaboration
Collaboration

We believe in a human-centered partnership approach where communities take the lead on identifying, implementing, monitoring, and adapting sustainable solutions.

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Tradition

We honor and protect the cross-generational cultural heritage of the diverse groups we partner with and carefully merge tradition with innovative tools for continued community development.

Our History

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2000

The High Atlas Foundation is founded by former Peace Corps Volunteers committed to furthering sustainable development and cultural preservation across Morocco.

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2005

We plant 7,000 apple and cherry trees – our first tree distribution at this scale – in 10 rural communities in Marrakech Province. The project was supported by US Ambassador to Morocco Thomas Riley, USAID, Morocco’s Ministry of Waters and Forests, and the Marrakech 21 Foundation.

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2008

U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Thomas Riley and Mrs. Nancy Riley host a reception in Rabat, where we sign three landmark partnerships with the High Commission of Waters and Forests, the Office Chérifien des Phosphates (OCP), and Hassan II University-Mohammedia, significantly expanding capacity for sustainable development work.

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2012

The House of Life project launches in Akrich, linking community development with cultural preservation and celebration through the establishment of community fruit tree nurseries on land adjacent to Moroccan Jewish cemeteries.

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2013

We reach one million trees planted as an organization at the close of the planting season. This achievement marks a significant milestone for the House of Life project and our ongoing partnerships with Moroccan farming families, cooperatives, and schools.

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2017

We assist in capacity building with rural cooperatives. The program engages underserved communities in the Beni Mellal, Fez, and Marrakech regions through legal aid, awareness-raising, and socio-economic integration while institutionalizing participatory governance in the Western Moroccan Sahara.

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2019

A 4-year partnership with the USAID Farmer-to-Farmer program launches, promoting sustainable economic growth, food security, and agricultural development with Moroccan communities. We train 620 people and provide free consulting to 75 host organizations – farmers, cooperatives, and small businesses.

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2022

Family Literacy program in Marrakech-Safi and Beni Mellal-Khenifra launches. The project promotes literacy and numeracy skills for rural women and their children and provides a collaborative learning environment, awareness of legal rights, and expanded economic opportunity.

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2023

In the wake of the September earthquake, we develop a relief and rebuilding program in response to immense community needs. We distribute over 500 tons of supplies to nearly 70,000 people, provide psychosocial support, build intermediate shelters, and begin long-term water and agricultural infrastructure projects in the four months following the earthquake.

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Our Team

Get to know the dedicated group of people behind our programs.

Meet Our Team