Au Grain de Sésame
16 rue Sidi Ahmed Daoui
10030 Rabat
Morocco
- Arts
- Environment/Sustainable development
- Gender
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,
Au Grain de Sésame is a woman owned, woman operated social enterprise based in Rabat, Morocco with a mission of empowering marginalized women. Mission Using art and ecological design training to empower marginalized women to believe in themselves. Vision Make art a vector of sustainable development in the framework of climate change and through respect for human values. Goals for the Business Encourage eco-friendly consumption Support women’s empowerment Enjoy functional, innovative and ecofriendly products Do good for the community and the world
Current project: - Training of 11 cooperatives from the Taza-Taounate region, from the basketry sector, in sustainable design development and market access, as part of the Mohamed V Foundation for Solidarity project and in collaboration with the 2D DAMA Morocco design office, - In collaboration with the social enterprise ES Maroc and the Rabat women's association Dir EL Khir, training for women members of the Dir EL Khir association in the introduction to the use of IT tools. - Training of five women from the Rabat medina as trainers in the development of sustainable handmade crafts combining local craftsmanship, recycling techniques and the circular economy.
- Contribute to raising awareness of the Annah Lindh Foundation's activities and values through our social networks: Intagram, Facebook, LinkedIn. - Our clear understanding of the issues facing the FAL, and our total commitment to the values it promotes and conveys, will make our social enterprise a respectful member of the FAL's actions and values, as well as a potential collaborator and partner for the foundation's members wishing to support projects working in the fields of sustainable development, climate change and cultural exchange. - To make available the skills of our social enterprise, acquired over more than fifteen years and recognized by various international organizations (Seed Uno, American Alliance Museum, US State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Cooperation Washingtan DC, European Union, Dutch Culture,).
Our objectives are motivated by: - Increase our visibility, - Search for new collaborators and partners, - Exchange of experience to increase and improve our knowledge.
