Press release written by the Amna Association in Tangier on October 3, 2025
When training becomes a lever for empowerment
On October 2, 2025, the rural community of Hjar Nhal celebrated a collective success. Thirty rural women from the douars of Daïdaat, Kanouaa, Zaitouna, and Cheraka received their certificates of participation at the end of an intensive four-month entrepreneurial training program.
This ceremony marked a significant moment for these women who, after several months of learning, now feel ready to create, manage, and develop their own projects. The Espace Amna – Guichet des Coopératives et Auto-entrepreneures project, led by the AMNA Association in partnership with GERES and with the support of the French Development Agency (AFD) as part of the Fame project, aims to provide rural women with the tools they need to achieve sustainable economic independence and become actors in local development.
Learning to be an entrepreneur: 31 hours to change a life
The program, which ran from May to September 2025, consisted of 31 hours of training divided into practical modules: creating economic activities, cooperative management, communication, female leadership, and self-confidence.
These workshops, led by independent consultant-trainers Salima Ben Moussa and Said Bisbis, enabled participants to acquire solid entrepreneurial skills and a better understanding of themselves.
“This program was not limited to teaching economic concepts; it was above all about building confidence and valuing the abilities of each woman,” explains Salima Ben Moussa, a trainer specializing in women’s entrepreneurship.
“We saw women arrive shy and hesitant, and leave proud and confident in their potential. Their personal transformation is the most rewarding aspect of this project,” adds Said Bisbis, consultant-trainer.
Participants took part in practical exercises, role-playing games, and personal expression sessions to learn how to formulate, defend, and structure their future projects.
“This training has enabled me to believe in my abilities and understand how to structure a profitable business,” says Fatima, a participant from the village of Kanouaa.
From training to action: projects taking shape
At the end of the training, several concrete initiatives emerged:
- Three cooperatives are being set up: clothing manufacturing, pastry making, and bread baking.
- Three self-employed businesses are in the pipeline: one in mattress making and two in hairdressing.
To support them in their efforts, 21 women have been selected for post-training support, including:
- 30 hours of personalized support (5 hours per project) for business planning and financial management;
- 12 hours of legal support (2 hours per project) for legal incorporation;
- 30 hours of follow-up (5 hours per project) to ensure implementation and viability.
“We have learned to work together and listen to each other’s ideas. Today, we are preparing to set up our own pastry cooperative. It’s a dream come true,” says Khadija, a participant from the village of Cheraka.
Renewed confidence and sustainable prospects
The program’s results are promising: a 100% satisfaction rate and visible progress in public speaking, group management, and project planning.
“Before, I would never have dared to speak in public. Today, I feel capable of defending my project and inspiring other women to do the same,” explains Latifa, a beneficiary from the village of Zaitouna.
This increase in confidence is also highlighted by the supervisory team:
“These women now have the tools to go further. They no longer just dream, they plan, they dare, they take action,” notes Salima Ben Moussa.
A dynamic community spirit and solidarity in action
Beyond professional achievements, the Espace Amna project has created a real dynamic of mutual aid and female solidarity within the beneficiary villages.
The women who have been trained now express a renewed motivation to pursue their entrepreneurial journey, pass on their knowledge, and actively contribute to local development.
“Thanks to this training, I believe in my ability to start my own business. I have learned to plan, talk about my project, and work with other women. We want to go further,” says a participant from Douar Kanouaa.
A strong community commitment
For the AMNA Association, this success goes beyond simply awarding certificates. It embodies a long-term vision: that of a fairer society, where rural women gain real economic and social recognition.
“What we are celebrating today is much more than the end of a training course: it is the beginning of a movement for emancipation. These women will inspire others, and that is how change takes root,” says Ms. Soad Slassi, secretary general of the AMNA Association. Building on this first successful experience, the association plans to extend the Espace Amna project to other rural communities in the Tangier region in order to strengthen the program’s impact and build a sustainable model for women’s empowerment.
