18 Oct 2016
Kasbah Tamadot is pleased to announce the official opening of two new Eve Branson Foundation initiatives in the local community: the Tamgounssi Weaving Centre and the Tansghart Woodwork Centre in Morocco.
Situated in the spectacular Atlas Mountains, the award-winning Kasbah Tamadot was bought by Sir Richard Branson during one of his famous ballooning expeditions.
The organisation's founder, Eve Branson, together with her son Sir Richard Branson, officially opened each centre with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on 1st October 2016. To mark this occasion, the Foundation welcomed special guests Her Majesty's British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Morocco, Karen Elizabeth Betts, Rabia El Alama from the American Chamber of Commerce, Governor of the Region Mr Omar Touimi and donor Pat Hull.
The group had the chance to witness first-hand the impact of these projects in the villages which surround Kasbah Tamadot. They met the Tansghart Woodwork Centre trainees, young men who are learning carpentry skills the focal point for a new carpentry apprenticeship scheme in the local community to create future career opportunities.
Developed by the Eve Branson Foundation in partnership with Green Sahara Furniture, the scheme aims to address a lack of vocational training facilities in Asni. The scheme has already welcomed eight young trainees from the local community who had recently left or dropped out of school. The work-based programme has seen the boys learn sophisticated carpentry skills in Casablanca before returning to the centre to demonstrate their new-found expertise.
They also visited the Tamgounssi Weaving Centre which invites girls from the community to develop skills for life and make high-quality traditional Berber crafts using centuries-old style looms.
The Eve Branson Foundation began in one of the oldest villages of the region, Tansghart. Eve Branson crossed the river with some wool and knitting needles and met Fatima Imni, a 25-year old young woman who invited Eve into her house for a mint tea. Eve started to teach Fatima how to knit and other local girls soon joined in. Twelve years on, the Foundation's work remains very much about creating and developing ideas in harmony with the Berber people to celebrate the richness of their culture and provide the resources, training and tools necessary to encourage young people to learn.
Visitors to Kasbah Tamadot are able to see some of their skills in practice at the centre and purchase items carved and shaped from local offcuts.
Kasbah Tamadot Video: http://www.virginlimitededition.com/en/kasbah-tamadot
What is the Eve Branson Foundation?
Since 2005, The Eve Branson Foundation has been developing initiatives in collaboration with local Berber communities to promote educational enrichment, employment opportunities and better healthcare for the women and young people living in Morocco's High Atlas Mountains.
The Foundation provides educational opportunities, vocational training, access to work space, tools and other necessary resources to create marketable goods. As a result, more local girls and boys have the possibility of becoming economically self-sufficient and able to generate an income to support themselves and their families.
For more information: http://evebransonfoundation.org.uk/
Eve Branson Foundation Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGV8y2MRWdY
All About Eve Video: http://evebransonfoundation.org.uk/assets/eve_honoree-Wi-Fi1.m4v
Notes to Editors:
Virgin Limited Edition is an award-winning collection of unique retreats, chosen for their beautiful locations and magnificent surroundings; each offers a sense of fun, style, luxury and exceptional personal service. The group includes Necker Island in the Caribbean's British Virgin Islands, Ulusaba Private Game Reserve in South Africa, The Roof Gardens and Babylon Restaurant in London, Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco, The Lodge in Verbier, Necker Belle, a 105 foot luxury catamaran, Mahali Mzuri, a tented safari camp in Kenya, Mont Rochelle Hotel and Mountain Vineyard in South Africa, and Son Bunyola Estate in Mallorca.
