It is a particular joy for me to announce that my colleague for many years, Larbi Didouqen, is now the High Atlas Foundation’s Director in Morocco.

I first met Si Larbi in 1993 when I was a Peace Corps Volunteer and he was the Director of the Toubkal National Park. I recall most from our initial encounter that I made a remark that someone referred to as “philosophical”. Larbi, in all his thoughtfulness, responded: “We need philosophers to carry out our mission.” We have been close collaborators ever since.

At this moment, HAF in Morocco is:

– transplanting more than 250,000 tree saplings from our eleven nurseries by March, and planting a million more seeds in 2018, benefiting communities and schools in 30 provinces

– implementing a major clean drinking water project in the south, with nomadic people;

- conducting women’s empowerment workshops that is a rights-based and human development approach;

- building upon its seven university partnerships

– monitoring for carbon credits;

– building capacities of members of cooperatives;

- fielding Farmer-to-Farmer volunteers from the U.S., and interns from around the world; and

– advocating people’s participation in development at all levels and with all sectors of society.

Our team that Larbi is now leading is so hard working and breaks new ground. Larbi leads through his wonderful example and steadfast dedication. He was a volunteer for HAF during its first ten years, before joining its staff full-time in 2011. The starting point of his commitment to HAF’s mission of participatory development is the love of people. From there, the best decisions are made.

As for me, I will be part of HAF as much as ever. I will write more, build special partnerships more, and do so more from the United States.

This is my last HAF message of 2017 that reminds me of that most beautiful intangible quality about Morocco: that beautiful and unpredictable things happen, that uplift others and somehow me along – higher and higher, with greater serenity.

Wishing much of only good for 2018, and always,

Yours faithfully,

Yossef Ben-Meir, Ph.D.

HAF Founder and President