30th April - 1st May2007
Marrakech, Morocco

THE MARRAKECH DECLARATION

On June 2008 Al Shehab Foundation for Comprehensive Development launched
the final result of the study "Children Dropping Out of schools factors in
Ezbet El Haggana" during a community public meeting in Ezbet El Haggana
Cairo.

Health for All Now!
People's Health Movement

A study titled "Arab Reform and Foreign Aid: Lessons from Morocco" was conducted by the Centre for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, to evaluate the experience of Morocco in the field of economic and cultural reform. The authors of the study -- Haim Malka and John Alterman -- conducted a series of interviews with hundreds of Moroccans from various sectors, including members of the government, university teaching staff, journalists, and members of non-governmental and civil society organizations.

Microfinance is thriving in Morocco. Poor people who cannot qualify for traditional loans can now start businesses with micro-credit loans. Soudoji opened his babouche (slipper) shop using micro-credit. With the help of low-interest micro-credit loans, many poor Moroccans, including women and people from rural areas, have been able to escape poverty and start their own businesses.

It is the message of trust you are sending by the image of a woman selling lemons on a street corner. That is the secret of micro finance, stressed Pancho Otero, director of the Bolivia-based Micro Enterprise Policy.  “Boosting both cash and self-esteem is what micro-finance is about, for poverty is not only an economic issue, but the way you see yourself and how society sees you,” added Otero in a presentation on the financial assistance of micro finance services. He was speaking in a three-day seminar on `Small and Micro Business Development Services' held at the Queen Zein Al Sharaf Institute for Development.