In the heart of Chefchaouen's medina, six women are building something that extends far beyond the textiles they weave. The Talassemtane Women's Cooperative is preserving tradition and rewriting what economic independence looks like for women in Morocco's Rif Mountains. When you step into their workshop, you're witnessing innovation rooted in heritage. The leader of the collective learned the traditionally male practice of blanket weaving and has brought it to her community, teaching other women this art. 

These artisans blend centuries-old techniques with contemporary design, creating work so exceptional that prominent European financial institution, Santander Bank selected them as one of just nine Moroccan projects worthy of investment support. But the real story isn't in the accolades. It's in what this cooperative makes possible: financial autonomy and skills to be passed down through generations of women. It's a model that proves craft isn't quaint, it's quite powerful.

And that impact ripples outward. When women earn, entire families shift. Girls stay in school longer. Health outcomes improve. Communities stabilize. The looms at Talassemtane aren't just creating beautiful textiles—they're creating positive change for the future of their community.

Miles south in Marrakech, Chef Tarik runs a different kind of workshop, one where the act of cooking becomes an act of community investment. His kitchen garden employs local women and men, sources from neighborhood markets and the farm property, turning culinary education into economic opportunity. The individuals who work alongside him aren't just teaching you to layer spices in a tagine. They're supporting their families, building their skills, and participating in an economy that sees them as essential.

When Chef Tarik's staff guides your hands through shaping couscous or explains the five-step process of Moroccan tea, you're learning from people whose expertise is valued as a precious skill. That's intentional. That's the point.

These experiences give visiting Olivians a chance to experience, partake, and purchase from these meaningful ventures and the people within them who are building their own paths.

Last year, Olivia Gives Back put that belief into action by supporting Education for All Morocco, one of three organizations who uplift women and girls around the world that Olivia chose to support this year around Giving Tuesday. In Morocco's rural regions, secondary school can be miles away, too far for girls to travel safely each day. Education for All bridges that distance with boarding houses, meals, and the kind of stable environments where futures take shape.

Olivia contributed $5,000 to this cause, and our community raised just over $11,000 total for EFA and two other remarkable organizations in Nepal and Tanzania. But Giving Tuesday was a beginning, not an end. The need continues. Girls like Safa, now pursuing her degree in Digital Engineering, exist and thrive because someone believed that her potential mattered enough to invest in it.

If you're able, we invite you to join us in supporting Education for All Morocco. Your tax-deductible contribution provides room and board, school supplies, and the safety that makes education possible. Visit our GlobalGiving fundraiser to give

Cambodia’s Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary project protects more than 166,000 hectares of threatened forest, home to endangered species and rich biodiversity. It also uplifts Indigenous communities through education, job creation, and women's programs tied directly to forest conservation.

In the Yaeda Valley of northern Tanzania, one of the world’s last remaining hunter-gatherer communities is being supported through forest preservation and enhanced enforcement of land rights. The Yaeda-Eyasi Landscape project helps protect the Hadza people’s way of life and channels funding into healthcare and education, especially for women and girls.

Indonesia’s Rimba Raya Biodiversity Reserve stands out for its size and scope. It preserves carbon-rich peat swamp forests while investing in many community programs. From microloans for women, clean water, and education access to supporting orangutan rehabilitation in the Tanjung Puting National Park, it’s a project where climate action and community care go hand in hand. 

Known for its breathtaking landscapes and rich biodiversity, Nepal has lost more than 70% of its forests due to decades of deforestation. The impact is felt not just in the environment, but in people’s lives. Especially by women in rural communities who often face limited job opportunities and social restrictions.

The Olivia Travel Forest, located in Nepal’s Bardiya District, is helping to change that. So far, we’ve planted 19,524 trees, expected to remove 3,204 tons of CO₂ over their lifetimes.

The reforestation work brings life-changing impact to the communities that plant and care for these forests. Approximately 50% of the reforestation team members are women, many of whom gain steady income, social standing, and new opportunities through this work.

At the heart of this effort is Rachhya Kayastha, Country Director of Eden Reforestation Projects Nepal. Born in the Himalayan region, Rachhya began her journey with Eden in 2016 as a field officer and became Eden Nepal’s director in 2018. 

In Morocco’s rural regions, secondary school can be miles away, too far to reach each day safely. Education for All Morocco (EFA) bridges that gap by providing safe boarding houses, academic support, healthy meals, and a stable environment where girls can study and thrive.

This year, scholarship recipient Safa shared her story: “I am currently pursuing a degree in Digital Engineering… My aim is to advance in my career and contribute significantly to my community… I am deeply grateful to Education for All Morocco and its donors for providing me with life-changing opportunities.”

How your gift helps in Morocco:

• $25 provides one week of food and board.
• $100 covers one full month of room and board.
• $500 provides school equipment for ten girls.