Local to Global
There are regions of North Africa where unemployment runs as high as 40% among recent graduates and young professionals, with very little technological or economic development, high illiteracy rates and mild to extreme poverty in some cases. Yet many of these families have skills and trades that are like no other place on earth. These regions are filled with a unique people who follow similar patterns and trades that have been passed down from generations back 1000’s of years. Things like pottery throwing, bread baking, leather tanning and sewing, and rug weaving, and even farming and cooking practices, to name a few. Sadly, these trades are dying out because youth do not see a benefit in carrying on these traditions. Many youth do not desire to learn these trades and apprentice under their fathers or mothers because there is very little economic gain in keeping these traditions. We want to change this. We want to help preserve and promote revival of these cultural and historic arts by bringing global attention to the special skills and work that these Artists produce.
We want to see these regions thriving and the youth growing in an interest to carry on the arts and trade of their ancestors. We can do this together. Here is how it works. We travel the region connecting with these artists, farmers, and shop owners to establish relationships, buy their products, help develop the style and quality of their products and help develop touristic experiences that we believe foreigners would enjoy. We then buy the products at asking price and we even start new businesses around local managers to help navigate relationships, purchasing, packaging, and shipping. We market and sell these products and experiences globally for these artists at no extra cost to them. We serve with booking, logistics and translation for tourists and artists wanting to host a cultural or crafting experience. For both product sales and experiences, we try to keep our costs as low as possible so that the majority of the price that customers pay serves the local artist or local managers we have started new businesses with. We believe we can make a difference in these regions through developing these small businesses and have the opportunity to preserve something that is unique and valuable at the same time.
Will you join us in our ambition?
The Regions We Work
Rif Mountains of Morocco
The Northern Moroccan Rif Mountains are beautiful lush green rugged cliffs that run from Fez to Tangier and over to Al Hociema. A few of the most famous cities in the Rif which are known for their artisan work and tourism are Chefchaouen, also called “The Blue City”, and Tetuan. This region is filled with farms and hundreds of villages, good climbing and hiking trails, as well as some amazing waterfalls and pristine beaches along the Mediterranean. Not nearly as many tourists make it through this region on their visit to Morocco because it is a little off the normal path to Merrackesh or Fez, but this region is worth your time.
Central Atlas of Morocco
The Central Atlas Mountains cover the region from Safi, Essouria, to Merrakesh. The climate is more arid in this region but some of the most beautiful artwork in the whole country of Morocco comes from this region. Tourism is one of the highest grossing income sources for locals. Berber peoples from Morocco’s history still carry on their unique rug, leather and pottery works. You can go from the Sahara Desert to the Atlantic Ocean and the Atlas Mountains in one day in this region.