Action Grand Froid: when high school students come to the aid of disadvantaged families

Because winter can be harsh, especially for the most needy, several students from Lycée Lyautey are launching the Action Grand Froid operation in the hope of helping 125 families from the Oussertek valley to Oukaimeden, by providing food and warm clothing. A solidarity project that warms hearts and bodies.

Each year, many associations help families living in remote areas to enable them to get through the winter. This season, as various projects begin to be put in place, one action in particular caught our attention: that undertaken by students from Lycée Lyautey, members of the Interact Club Lyautey Casablanca association and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Casablanca- Cornice.

Aged between 14 and 18, they are a total of 25 motivated members, ready to use their free time to improve the well-being of their country. After having organized a lunch with elderly people from the Aïn Chock hospice, donated medical-technical equipment to the Noor hospital center and provided school support to the children of the Tahar Sebti institution and the Oum Kelthoum school, the members of the Interact Club Lyautey Casablanca, led by their president Selma Laabi, are today launching the Grand Froid action which consists of a distribution of foodstuffs and clothing in the Oussertek valley, located 1,800 meters above sea level. altitude within the municipality of Oukaimeden.

A committed young generation

This is the first major action for the club, founded in October 2019. “During the year, two members of Interact Casablanca went for a hike in the Haut- Moroccan Atlas, more precisely in the valley of Oussertek. By talking with their guide, they realized that the Berber populations who live there have a real need, especially during the winter period. It was therefore normal that we chose this region for our first Great Cold action,” explains Selma Laabi, president of the association.

Made up of 5 villages (Agadir, Gliz, Imzough, Tidli and Tinrouar), this valley has a total of 125 families, including many children and the elderly, for whom the winters are harsh. Living in autarky, their only economic exchanges take place every Saturday morning when the men go down to the souk of Asni, located more than 2 hours away. A supply of medicines, food and clothing put at risk when temperatures drop and weather conditions deteriorate. To help these villagers get through this difficult period, the students drew up a list of their different needs, namely 700 kg of flour, 700 kg of white beans, 700 kg of lentils, 1,250 sachets of yeast, 1,000 cans of tuna in can, 300 liters of oil, as well as sweaters, jackets, socks, pants and shoes, in the hope of being able to provide a batch of food and clothing to each family.

To achieve their goal, these young people need everyone's involvement and therefore offer several ways to help them. It is thus possible to make donations in kind (food and/or clothing) or via bank transfer. Once the various aids have been collected, everything will be sent by truck, under the supervision of members of the Casablanca-Corniche Rotary Club and security agents to ensure that each family benefits from the same amount of resources.

“Ideally, we would like to complete the harvest by the end of November, beginning of December. But if the objectives are not achieved, we are ready to extend the period, the important thing being to be able to equip the different families before winter sets in too much,” explains Selma Laabi.

A very nice project that debunks preconceived ideas by showing us a motivated young generation, ready to help others. Cheer !

For more information about where to deposit donations in kind and bank transfers, contact Selma Laabi on 06 37 21 88 95, May Zaim on 06 11 33 55 06 or Lilya El Bouanani on 06 64 50 10 03.