Farah explains our People-first approach in Morocco and beyond
While crisis response is intended to provide relief, it can often create dependency, overlook urgent needs, or fail the test of time. At People for People, we address these challenges by involving people at every stage of the process. Leading this effort is Farah, our Global Crisis Response Manager, who joined us last year. Drawing on her extensive experience in crisis zones such as the DRC and Syria, she shares insights into our people-first approach—what it means and how we’re putting it into action.
The challenge: restoring humanity
When a crisis hits, it’s all over the news and everyone wants to get involved, but soon after, the spotlight fades. From her long interaction with crisis-affected communities, Farah knows that long after they’re removed from headlines, people continue to suffer silently.
“People are more than statistics. Sometimes news can be dehumanising, but humanitarian frontliners should always restore humanity into the picture.” says Farah. “As People for People, we act swiftly in the moments of crisis, but we also stay engaged when no one is talking about it anymore, to reach those left behind.”
“That’s why we’re returning to Morocco soon.”
In our next mission to Morocco, we, collectively with partners and local communities, will install relief housing units in villages affected by the 2023 earthquakes. Those units will arrive in some of the hardest to reach villages in Al-Atlas mountains to be used as temporary classrooms for children whose education has been disrupted since the disaster.
As Farah points out, we don’t plan such interventions single handedly.
a. We listen First
In the wake of the earthquake in Morocco in 2023, People for People responded immediately, but months later, Farah continued listening to Moroccan NGOs and the Moroccan community in the Netherlands. She learned that some rural communities remained underserved. This was especially true in remote mountainous areas where damaged schools made it difficult for children to continue their education.
Recognizing that the best insights come from those directly affected, People for People went back to Morocco at the start of 2025 to visit the affected regions, meet the people and assess their needs. To do so, we partnered with SOS Children’s Villages Morocco for national level coordination and with grassroots NGOs consisting of community members from the most affected villages. Together we identified the top priority location – Al Haouz region, and the most urgent need – supporting school children.
This method of community-led assessment is a core part of Farah’s approach. Back in the days when she worked with another humanitarian organization in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she co-designed a healthcare program for vulnerable groups with women from remote villages — to ensure it met their real needs and respected their dignity.
b. We give ownership
Crisis aid can often become like a band aid, fixing what needs to be fixed in the moment, and leaving local communities reliant on external help the next time something breaks down. Farah makes sure People for People breaks this cycle of reliance and builds a system of empowerment.
In Al-Haouz, volunteers from the community and grassroots NGOs will co-construct the shelter units alongside our teams and our partner, Better Shelter. These builders will receive hands-on training, empowering them with skills to maintain and potentially expand the structures. Once the units are built, the leadership will transition to them.
Farah used the same model in our response to conflict-driven displacements in Lebanon in October 2024. According to Sandra Klat, founder of Bassma, our partner in Lebanon at the time, many shelters didn’t have onsite cooking facilities. Coupled with electricity shortages, this made them reliant on local restaurants to prepare and deliver meals three times a day, which was both expensive and not sustainable in the long-term. It was necessary to reimagine the classic humanitarian food distributions. Instead of delivering daily meals, Farah opted for providing shelters with gas cookers—enabling families to cook their own meals and reclaim autonomy.
c. We partner with purpose
A crucial part of Farah’s work as Global Crisis Manager involves empowering local organizations, leaders, and communities that we can develop long-term, sustainable partnerships with.
“When we form partnerships with external stakeholders, it’s essential that there’s alignment—not just in the work and objectives but, more importantly, in the principles and values we have.” Farah points out.
That’s one reason why People for People chose SOS Children’s Villages in Morocco, a trusted NGO which provides vulnerable children with a safe home, education, and care.
“SOS doesn’t treat kids as numbers—they have names, identities, families, and homes. The organization ensures that no child feels stigmatized, creating environments that are truly humane and filled with warmth.”
At People for People, we don’t just show up with solutions; we show up with listening ears, open hands, and long-term vision. By empowering local actors, building trust, and staying long after the cameras leave, we’re not only responding to crises—we’re nurturing resilience.
Learn more about our response to the Morocco earthquake.
Follow us on social media for updates on our upcoming mission, and if you’re ready to take action, get involved!
