Frequently Asked Questions
Financial
I would rather not donate online with a credit card; can I donate with a check?
Yes, you can write your check out to GlobalGiving Foundation, with Project 1793 in the description line and send it to:
Erickson Creative Group
PO Box 1982
Livingston, MT 59047
USA
We will process it and a receipt will be sent to you for your tax deduction. Please include the name and address where you want the receipt sent.
How can I get a copy of the project’s financial records?
Please contact Project Manager, Cloe Medina Erickson, and a current financial statement will be provided to you.
Context/ Background
What is the population of the region, the area and the neighborhood?
The region, Zawiya Ahansal, is comprised of four villages: Amzrai, Aggudim, Tighanimin, and Taghia. The population consists of both permanent inhabitants and seasonal nomadic pastoralists, all of which are of Berber (Imazighen) origin. They are different than the Arab population of Morocco’s metropolitan regions. There are approximately 2500 permanent inhabitants and 2500 pastoralists in the region. The pastoralists migrate to the region in May and leave in September.
What is the government structure like (local, state and national)?
The local government is comprised of the historical tribal system, that has been in place for over 1000 years, and the national Moroccan government of the kingdom. When dealing with inter family, tribe, and clan disputes they follow the advice of saints, religious leaders, and ancestors. When dealing with issues on a state or national level they follow the kingdom’s government. Zawiya Ahansal is within the province of Azilal, with a capital of the same name and a three to four hour drive away. There are no established communities between Azilal and Zawiya Ahansal so it is essentially a ‘frontier’ region. There is a small government presence in Zawiya Ahansal, which includes an elected/appointed caid, governor, and a few staff.
What is the NGO community like there?
Currently, there are no NGO’s working in this region. There are a few French associations working in the region on economic development and utility development projects.
What formal and informal roles do any relevant local NGOs, local government agencies, schools, religious and/or neighborhood institutions play in this project?
The caid, governor, of Zawiya Ahansal has given his approval for the project. In addition, the Deputy Minister to Parliament, M. Moha Amerghi, has given his verbal support of the project.
The residents of the village of Amzrai are directly involved in the project.
Who normally creates and maintains libraries in that area and how are they involved?
The closest library is in the provincial capital, Azilal. There have never been any libraries in Zawiya Ahansal. Libraries in Morocco are organized under the King’s government and the Moroccan National Library in Rabat. The National Library has agreed to collaborate on the project and plans to gift books in Arabic and French to the library. In addition, they will help with the importation of books from the United States and France.
What kind of Internet service and/or access is there in the area?
There is no internet service or access in the region. There is cellular telephone service in all of the villages except for Taghia.
Who normally preserves buildings in that area and how are they involved?
Locals perform all of the maintenance on their buildings. However, the architecture of the Igherm is unique and different from the architecture of the houses and since it is over 300 years old, there are little to no people in the region who know the craft of preserving this type of architecture. We will provide training to the locals in preservation techniques of this architectural style. There are other preservation projects throughout Morocco involving this type of architecture and knowledgeable individuals who can help perform the training.
What permits will need to be obtained? What transportation, electrical, water, and other services are available there?
No permits need to be obtained. The region is accessible by 4×4 vehicles. Currently, there is electricity for the Moroccan government buildings. The villages themselves do not have electricity except for a few individual hydroelectric and solar installations. There are communal water sources with little to no running water in the homes. The Igherm will have solar electricity and water will be piped in from a spring, which is 500 meters from the property.
What history of the area leads naturally to the establishment of a library?
Over the past decade, the inhabitants have started to earn paper money through the growth in tourism. This money is gradually allowing them to educate their children and send them to Azilal for the continuation of their education. Currently, the local school system only teaches children to grade six. However, because of the sporadic nature of the teachers and the lack of school supplies, the students that have had the opportunity to go away to school have immediately found themselves grades below their peers. Concisely, the education that they are receiving in their village is not adequate. The library will provide an avenue outside of school to supplement their learning. The library will also serve the adults. Currently, the region has no access to any reading materials; books, newspapers, internet, or magazines. With the influence of foreigners it is time for a library, the locals not only want it but are willing to work to have it.
Project
Who owns the building? Who owns the land the building sits on?
The 25 families of the village of Amzrai own the building and the land. From its inception, over 300 years ago, it has been a communal building. Documentation of this ownership has been provided in writing and is certified by the Moroccan government.
Are the rehab of the building itself and the use of the building as a library inextricably linked, or are they separate?
The use of the building as a library is inextricably linked to the restoration. No restoration funds will be used until the locals have a comprehensive business plan for the establishment and sustainment of the library (or other agreed upon use).
Who is most likely to use this facility and how are they involved in the design?
The villagers of Amzrai will be the largest user group of the library; men, women, and children. The villagers of Amzrai are directly involved with the project and its scope. They have agreed to the multi-use project; library and granary. They also want the restoration to be historically sensitive keeping the exterior the same aesthetically, while the interior can be altered to support the new use as a library
The men and children from the other three villages will be the next largest user group. Most of the men come to the weekly market on Mondays. Amzrai is near to the market and therefore, will be a convenient location for the main regional library. However, representatives from the other villages have requested book access in their villages, which will serve the women and young girls who do not attend the weekly market and will not have access to the main library.
Sustainability
Why is there not already a library there?
Zawiya Ahansal is a very remote region of Morocco and has just begun to be connected with the modern world through tourism and the education of their youth. Up until now, there has not been a need for a library.
Is there funding available to maintain the functioning of a library?
As part of the project agreement the locals are required to draft a business plan for the library and brainstorm on potential methods of creating income for the sustainable functioning of the library.
How does the local/ national/ ethnic culture demonstrate a commitment to libraries?
Literacy is new to the Berber world because they are historically an oral people. However, they are now interacting with the literate world and are finding that this is a necessary life skill. Libraries in the Berber regions of Morocco are rare, but with time they will play an important role in their communities. It is important that they are not forced to found libraries on the ideals of the west and because they are an oral people, their version of a sustainable library may differ from that which we in the west are expectant of.
Why isn’t the building already preserved?
Since Morocco regained its independence in the early 1950’sthe Igherm has fallen out of use. Life became peaceful and the people have begun to store their food in their own homes leaving the Igherm out of use and in growing disrepair. Despite this, the Igherm still holds an important place in the culture and are icons of their tribal strength. The Amzrai Igherm has been maintained over the years, but is now in need of a complete restoration. The people of the region do not have the funds to preserve it, but have the will to.
