Au Grain de Sésame

Au Grain de Sésame (AGS) is a social enterprise in art and culture, based in Rabat (Morocco) since December 2007 and, working within the framework of sustainable development goals and climate change issues. Based on an innovative paper recycling technique, AGS launched in 2013 the art and ecological design workshops for the empowerment of marginalized women artisans and women in difficult situations within a framework of cultural exchange. With the vision Empowering Women through Sustainable Art Education and Cultural Exchange. In 2013, AGS won the Seed Prize, United Nations Environment Initiative. In 2014, the founder of Au Grain de Sésame, the Moroccan artist Asmaa Benachir, was awarded first prize with the Museum Connect Project called "By the work of her hands." This project was supported by the US State Department and organized by the American Alliance of Museums. The one year project brought together female Moroccan embroiderers and female quilters from New York City to exchange their techniques and collaborate on a cross-cultural training project with students from ISCA (Institut Supérieure de l’Audiovisuelle et du Cinéma) school in Rabat and students from New York University. In 2015, AGS was semi-finalist of the African Award for Entrepreneurships. From September 2016 to August 2017, as part of the Revis project ("Reducing economic vulnerability for more stability through the development of industrial skills and inter-company partnerships"), the result of a cooperation launched between the Japanese government, the Ministry of national education and vocational training, OFPPT and UNIDO, Au Grain de Sésame supports the UNIDO REVIS project, by networking and marketing the products developed by beneficiaries during their training thanks to the Market EcoBio that AGS organizes and in its participation in national and international exhibitions (COP22, Minyadina, New York Now, etc.) The REVIS project, whose objective is to promote the employability of young people and women and to stimulate economic development in certain parts of Morocco, notably implements ecological design training aimed at the development of innovative, ecological and adapted artisanal products to local and international markets. Through these successful experiences, AGS holds the steadfast belief that art can be used as a powerful tool to develop human capital, through appropriate learning, and contributes to sustainable socio-economic development. Thus, the AGS approach encourages social integration in emerging countries like Morocco, all while prioritizing intercultural dialogue. In order to benefit more and, in the face of increasing globalization, the integration of new technologies into the AGS program is becoming a necessity, making it possible to transform a local solution into a global solution to climate change. www.augraindesesame.org https://www.facebook.com/groups/Marcheecobio/ Our partners and collaborators: - Seed Uno, a United Nations initiative for the environment. -Worcester Polytechnique Institute, WPI Worcester USA, -MAROC FUSION: Accounting & Finance audit -Taqafat NGO: cultural exchange program,