Introduction

The Legal Caravan and the Tree Planting Program led by the High Atlas Foundation, exemplify a dual approach to community development that intertwines legal education and environmental stewardship.

Legal Caravan: This university experiential learning initiative is supported by the National Endowment for Democracy and is in partnership with Mohammed I University of Oujda. It focuses on disseminating legal knowledge to community members, helping them understand their rights and obligations. By providing accessible information, workshops, and legal consultations, the caravan aims to empower individuals with the tools they need to navigate legal systems effectively. This builds not only awareness but also confidence in dealing with legal matters, leading to a more informed community that can advocate for itself.

Community Tree Planting: This program addresses environmental sustainability by encouraging local communities to engage in tree planting. This initiative fosters environmental stewardship, enhances biodiversity, and contributes to combating climate change. It also creates a sense of ownership over local natural resources, as community members are directly involved in preserving the environment for future generations.

Together, these initiatives promote an integrated approach to community empowerment, fostering legal literacy and environmental responsibility. This holistic strategy can lead to a more resilient community, capable of advocating for its rights while caring for its natural surroundings.

Oujda

The launch of the Legal Caravan on 11 September 2024, represents a significant step toward enhancing legal awareness and environmental sustainability in this region. With the university program managed by HAF Sanae Benadim and community tree planting coordinated by Lahcen Ben Moula, the first meeting took place at the Associative Network Center, bringing together 44 representatives from various civil society organizations and cooperatives in Oujda.

During the meeting, the discussion focused on the High Atlas Foundation’s projects aimed at promoting sustainable development in Morocco, including the legal clinic project supported by NED and in partnership with Mohammed I University. She mainly touched on the history of the emergence of the legal clinic in Morocco in general, then presented the program, its objectives, and its future work program.

The attendees received comprehensive information about the tree planting program emphasizing its role in environmental conservation. Additionally, insights were provided about the carbon credit project developed in partnership with Acorn (Rabobank), highlighting the importance of farmers' participation in tapping into carbon revenues and enhancing their agricultural practices.

The meeting encouraged active engagement in environmental conservation, addressing global climate change challenges. The interactive format allowed attendees to pose questions and engage in dialogue, ensuring they received accurate information about HAF initiatives and goals within the community. This inaugural gathering set a positive precedent for ongoing collaboration between the HAF and local civil society, fostering a commitment to both legal and environmental advocacy.

Nador

On 12 September, HAF continued its outreach by conducting a meeting in Nador that was aimed at engaging local associations and cooperatives in discussions about the legal clinic project and the tree planting initiative. Hosted at the Amjad International Academy, this event drew nine representatives from various local organizations and interested stakeholders.

During the meeting, Sanaa Benaadim gave a convincing presentation about the legal clinic project, which had a positive and significant impact on the attendees to learn more about the legal clinic program due to the importance of its goals for the community in the Nador region. The presentation informed the participants about the goals of this community initiative and the potential benefits, which enhanced their understanding of its importance in dealing with local issues.

The discussion then transitioned to HAF various projects in Morocco, particularly emphasizing the tree-planting program. Participants were provided with valuable insights into the importance of community tree planting and received specific information related to the benefits and opportunities associated with trees in the Nador region.

The atmosphere of the meeting was vibrant and engaging, leading to constructive discussions about the pressing issues facing Nador, especially illegal immigration and human trafficking. The city's geographical position as a key entry point for illegal immigrants highlights the need for legal interventions to tackle these critical challenges. Because of this, attendees expressed a strong interest in getting involved with HAF's projects, particularly the Legal Clinic program, hoping to contribute to solutions for these pressing community issues.

Overall, the meeting served as a platform for collaboration, highlighting HAF commitment to addressing local concerns through community engagement and legal assistance while promoting environmental sustainability.

Berkane

On 13 September, the Legal Caravan made its way to Berkane, full of enthusiasm and determination for its third event in the eastern region. The meeting took place at the Ghazal Women's Development Center, where 27 representatives from civil associations and cooperatives gathered.

A standout feature of this event was the active participation of women, whose eagerness to engage with HAF' projects was evident. Their involvement in prior initiatives, including self-MEPI projects 2017-2018 And the «Farmer to Farmer" project 2019-2023, had already made a positive and lasting impact in the region, fostering a spirit of collaboration and empowerment.

Following Ms. Benaadim presentation, Lahcen Ben Moula spoke about the tree-planting project and the carbon project. He emphasized the importance of disseminating information regarding the trees provided by HAF to farmers, underlining how these initiatives can enhance agricultural productivity in the region. Specifically, he shared statistics about tree distributions in Berkane The HAF f Team was able to distribute more than 30,000 trees from 2021 to 2024, benefiting approximately 100 farmers.

As the event drew to a close, attendees were assisted in completing the registration process for the legal clinic, setting the stage for future engagement and collaboration with HAF. This meeting not only fostered a collective commitment to tackling community needs but also reinforced the critical role of women as primary drivers of local development through active participation in legal and environmental initiatives.

Jerada

On 14 September, HAF traveled to the city of Jerada for the fourth legal clinic meeting in the eastern region. Taking place in the Al Massira Youth Centre, this meeting was notable for its high attendance, featuring 19 representatives from local civil society. A significant part of the discussion centered on the legal needs of the Jerada community, where participants highlighted key issues that could advance the objectives of the legal clinic.

Additionally, the unique geographical characteristics of Jerada were addressed, especially its distinct water table compared to other eastern regions. Emphasis was placed on the importance of tree planting among local farmers to mitigate the rising levels of carbon dioxide in the air and address the environmental challenges faced by the city. Looking ahead, HAF aims to build on this collaborative dialogue to develop targeted strategies that meet the community's legal and environmental needs.

El Aioun Sidi Mellouk

On the same day, the fifth meeting took place in the city of El Aioun Sidi Mellouk, marking a significant event due to the attendance of nine representatives from civil society who had previously participated in HAF’s training programs.

The attendees expressed their deep appreciation for the positive impact that the HAF Foundation team had on their personal development and projects in the region during their participation in the MEPI 2017-2018 program. As Najat, President of the Al-Oyoun Cooperative for the Development of Medicinal Herbs, expressed, the training was a great point of change and positive results that the cooperative has now achieved.

This appreciation created an atmosphere of harmony and attentive participation during Sanae Benaadim presentation on the legal clinic project. The meeting also provided an opportunity to discuss ongoing HAF projects, allowing participants to explore how to further benefit from HAF Foundation services and initiatives in the Oriental region of the country. This collaborative spirit paves the way for potential partnerships and enhanced support for community development efforts moving forward.

Guercif

The last stop of the Legal Clinic Caravan and Tree planting project took place on 15 September at the Khoutwa Association Center, Guercif, with 23 representatives from various associations in the region in attendance. The meeting was particularly engaging, with lively discussions during which attendees expressed their eagerness to participate in the Legal Clinic Project and help the community access vital legal information.

A highlight was the success story of the Guercif Al Khair Cooperative. Its members benefited from valuable training sessions previously organized by HAF, which provided them with the essential skills and knowledge to launch the Maskrat Nursery Project, which has become a pioneer in the region, providing local farmers with a variety of fruit trees and significantly enhancing their agricultural production and sustainability. As the event concluded, attendees reflected on the importance of continued collaboration and expressed their commitment to leveraging their newly acquired knowledge to further empower their communities.

In summary, the legal caravan stations in the eastern region provided an important platform for collaboration between the legal clinic and civil society organizations. These meetings facilitated meaningful dialogue, allowing for the exchange of ideas and suggestions to enhance the clinic's efficacy and encourage community involvement. Participants expressed a strong commitment to sustainable development and the need to bolster social work capabilities within the community, highlighting the collective goal of fostering a supportive environment for legal assistance and social progress.