Inspiration
Rebuilding futures through educating girls: The work of Stichting Moustaqbel
To inaugurate one of the classrooms we built post-earthquake in Al Haouz, Morocco, local women gathered for a creative workshop. Many hesitated when asked to hold a pencil – most for the very first time. For generations, opportunities in these rural communities had been just out of reach. Yet, in that same village, young women were returning from university, bringing back hope for lasting change.
This transformation is steadily taking root, guided by Hanneke van Hooff, founder of Stichting Moustaqbel. Moustaqbel was founded in 2016 and has since been helping girls from the Atlas Mountains access higher education and job opportunities – which otherwise would be out of reach for the vast majority.
The foundation of Moustaqbel was one manifestation of Hanneke’s passion about educating women – a mission rooted in her view of the dilemmas facing today’s world:
“The solutions to the world’s biggest challenges are in education – and in women’s leadership. We need more female voices and perspectives if we want better answers to the problems we face,” she says.
For Hanneke, this universal vision starts with supporting those who face the greatest barriers accessing education opportunities, like the communities of Al Atlas mountains “These communities aren’t resistant – what they lack is opportunity. Education breaks open their world, allowing young women and men alike to broaden their horizons and imagine a different future.”
The results speak for themselves. One alumna is now a marketing manager at a major internet provider in Casablanca. Another opened a tax consultancy business in her hometown. Others became teachers, returning to their villages and launching after-school programs for local children –expanding access to education within their communities.
These are more than personal success stories – they are seeds of change that ripple outward through entire communities.
A partnership born in urgency, rooted in purpose
When the disaster struck, People for People acted quickly, delivering emergency supplies to affected villages. At the same time, Moustaqbel was providing temporary lodging for families of their students.
“Our students remained safe in the city, but sadly, many lost their homes and family members back in the hardest hit villages. We launched an urgent response to provide them with shelter and emergency relief.” recalls Hanneke.
The two foundations quickly mapped, through Moustaqbel’s community roots, where help was most needed, identified the hardest-hit villages, and delivered aid – not only to students’ families but to many others as well.
Later, People for People returned to Al Haouz to build educational spaces for five communities. Today those spaces serve as both classrooms and community centres.
“Those educational spaces built in the villages complement Moustaqbel’s mission. We focus on supporting girls to complete higher education by providing safe boarding and access to university in Marrakesh. People for People strengthens the communities they come from, through multi-purpose spaces where children – especially girls – can learn close to home.” says Hanneke.
An impact that lasts
What we witnessed is that Moustaqbel forms a bridge between a place where many women had never held a pencil to one where some now study at university. This sparks lasting transformation: women empowered to succeed return with knowledge and skills that contribute to the long-term development of their communities.
We are proud and inspired by the mission Moustaqbel is advancing. We hope to spark more attention – to empower girls to reclaim their equal right to education.
Because when a girl is given the chance to study, she carries her whole community with her.
