Cultural Preservation & Dialogue — High Atlas Foundation

Cultural Preservation & Dialogue

We encourage local community members to value their shared cultural heritage and support the preservation of the past for a better future.

Our Programs

Dakira

Funded by USAID, our Dakira program explores and strengthens interreligious and inter-ethnic solidarity in Morocco. This unique approach maximizes relationship building through the restoration and preservation of cultural heritage and history.

Dakira Factsheet

House of Life

We facilitate the free lending of land at Jewish burial sites and the construction of community-managed fruit tree nurseries, strengthening inter-religious and inter-ethnic solidarity, preserving cultural heritage, and driving sustainable development. Through caring for a shared space of meaning, the House of Life project continues a long history of interfaith collaboration between Muslim and Jewish community members.

House of Life Brochure

TechCamp

A partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Morocco brings together 8 teams of 60 youth and civil society leaders from around Morocco for a five-day workshop focused on cultural preservation. Participants engage with leading experts in the field, build connections, and develop human-centered design skills for cultural heritage preservation, along with receiving training in data protection, digital storytelling, and project management.

TechCamp 2022 Final Report

Results by the Numbers

535

religious and cultural heritage sites identified, evaluated, and mapped in various regions of Morocco with the American Society for Overseas Research (ASOR)

50

educational and outreach tools created for facilitators and participants of interfaith dialogue initiatives, including tour guides, students, and CSOs

1,500

children and youth engaged in heritage learning activities at more than 150 schools in five regions of Morocco

1,000+

community members and leaders engaged in intercultural, interreligious, and intergenerational community dialogue through Dakira events

Insights

Preserving Morocco’s Tangible Heritage

Abdelkarim Ouguinaz gives an overview of the cultural heritage preservation tools and process used by the High Atlas Foundation. ASOR hosted a three-day symposium from April 11-13, 2024, Cultural Heritage Initiatives in Africa Today, highlighting the work of local heritage professionals, academics, and civil society organizations to protect, preserve, and promote cultural heritage in North Africa and the Sahel.

The High Atlas Foundation has identified, evaluated, and mapped 235 religious and cultural heritage sites in Morocco with the American Society for Overseas Research (ASOR).

Bridging Faiths, Preserving Legacies: The Role of Religious Communities Archives in the Preservation of Collective Memory and the Promotion of Diversity

On January 23, 2024, in partnership with the Diocese of Rabat and the Al Mowafaqa Institute, the High Atlas Foundation organized a study day entitled “The Role of Religious Communities Archives in the Preservation of Collective Memory and the Promotion of Diversity.” The event is part of the USAID-funded Dakira Program implemented by the High Atlas Foundation and its partners.