On October 27, 2019, Morocco set a new standard when it inaugurated its first fully solar-powered community, Id Mjahdi. The pioneer hamlet is located in the Ounagha commune within the Essaouria Province. It will house over 50 people in twenty homes. The project will act as an example for other Moroccan villages and is destined to inspire change throughout the African continent.
Part of the support, growth, and development of this autonomous settlement includes an educational preschool center for children ages four to six along with a literacy center for adults. The center will focus on pre-school education. Those who follow Morocco’s educational crisis, are hopeful the town’s educational focus addresses the challenges revealed in the 2017 World Bank report.
According to the World Bank, 50% of Moroccan children between the ages of four and five attend preschool. On June 20th, 2019, Morocco celebrated a $500 Million USD grant received from the World Bank that is allocated for Morocco’s 2015-2030 education vision.
The newly established Id Mjadhi village has inspired locals and is encouraging hope within the region. ” The village’s women expressed feeling like they went from darkness to light because of solar energy,” said Cluster Solaire’s general director Fatima-Zahra El Khalifa.
Investors of this social impact project to be acknowledged for its successful launch are, The Moroccan Ministry of Energy, Essaouira’s regional authorities, the Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN), Moroccan NGO Cluster Solaire, and the French brands Le Petit Olivier, a bio-skin care manufacturer and the Intermarché group. With permission from the Essaouira province and the Commune of Ounagha, French investors will now support Essaouira’s argan sector.
Id Mjadhi village is now fully operational yet not connected to the National Office for Electricity (ONE) power grid. The village’s power comes from 32 photovoltaic solar panels. Other noteworthy town facilities include a hammam, water tower, and a sports field for the children. To help stimulate the local economy, an argan workshop led by locals will provide jobs.