Keeping the Promise - الوفاء بالوعد

To the people. To the land. To the future.

The Anzar Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing hope and opportunity to the Atlas Mountains, reaching the communities most often left behind. From education and women’s empowerment to clean water, health, and sustainable agriculture, we invest in people, purpose, and progress to build a better Morocco for generations to come.

Water & Clean Access

Each well transforms lives. By bringing water directly to homes, we reduce daily hardship and create the foundation for a healthier future.

Be part of the change

Education

School supplies, uniforms, renovated classrooms, every action opens a door to a brighter future.

Sustainable Agriculture

introducing innovative techniques that strengthen farming and secure livelihoods.

Women’s Empowerment

Through crafts, training, and entrepreneurship, we strengthen the resilience and independence of rural women.

Health & Well-being

Essential healthcare and preventive programs reach the heart of Atlas villages.

Relentless Love, Real Impact

About the Anzar Foundation

Anzar was born from a promise to uplift Morocco’s Atlas Mountains, where stunning landscapes meet persistent challenges. We are a nonprofit registered in the United States and Morocco, connecting international support to local action so funds reach the families and villages that need them most.

We are dedicated to empowering Morocco’s mountain communities to thrive by delivering projects that ensure clean water, foster sustainable farming, and strengthen quality education. Guided by Moroccan-American collaboration, local leadership, and a shared commitment to progress, we work to build solutions that endure.

Short-Term (by September 2026):

15 projects. 10 villages. 20,000 people. We are focused on uplifting the Atlas Mountains through targeted initiatives in education, water access, and sustainable agriculture, ensuring that rural communities have the tools to thrive.

Long-Term (by 2030):

200 projects. 130 villages. 260,000 people. Our vision is a region transformed, where development is community-driven, resilience is strengthened, and no village is left behind.

  • Education: stronger schools and real opportunities for youth
  • Access to Water: reliable, sustainable clean water
  • Sustainable Agriculture: better techniques that protect livelihoods
  • Community Development: health, empowerment, and local initiatives

About the Region - The Atlas Mountains & Azilal

High above Morocco’s plains, the Atlas Mountains are a world of steep valleys, rocky ridges, and remote villages shaped by history, culture, and tradition. In Azilal, where Anzar begins its work, beauty and hardship live side by side.

Spread across roughly 9,500 km², more than half a million residents live in small rural communes and hamlets. Life is young and multigenerational; many children balance school with work and family duties.

Villages are built in earth and stone. Thick earthen walls cool in summer and warm in winter, yet fragile structures suffered during the 2023 earthquake. Distance and cost make safer retrofits rare.

Farming is the backbone: wheat, barley, olives, almonds, fruit, and livestock, with beekeeping and wild plants supplementing income. Drought and climate stress are shrinking fields, herds, and options, while isolation raises costs and limits access to markets.

Schools are few and far. Long walks, seasonal labor, and limited facilities keep literacy and enrollment below national averages, especially for girls. Families see education as a path out of poverty.

Resilience and Opportunity

Despite water scarcity, weak infrastructure, and seismic risk, social ties and local knowledge remain strong. For Anzar, Azilal holds real need and real promise. With respect, inclusion, and consistency, progress can be lasting.

Help Them

Our First Steps Toward Change

The Backpack Project marked the first official initiative of the Anzar Foundation. In 2025, Malek and Sereen distributed 150 backpacks in the Bin El Ouidane region to children from first to sixth grade.
After the 2023 quake, Malek and Sereen rebuilt a family’s unsafe mud-and-stone home on their land with cement and brick, creating a stronger and safer house built to last.
Our foundation helped renovate a crumbling classroom at the same school, adding a proper fourth room. This ended split shifts, restored full school days, and showed students that their education matters.
In 2019, two high schoolers, Malek and Sereen, raised funds and worked with local builders to install the first proper bathrooms at a school in Igerferouane, Al Haouz. The new facilities restored privacy and dignity for girls and helped them stay in class.

How you can help

Discover

Learn about the challenges and ongoing projects in the Atlas Mountains, from water access to education and sustainable farming.

Choose a Cause

Select the initiative that speaks to you, build a well, support a classroom, plant a tree, or sponsor a child’s education.

Donate & Share

Make a secure donation and share the campaign with your friends and community to multiply the impact.

See the Change

Track the progress of the project you supported and witness how your contribution transforms lives.

Our Pillars of Change

Education

We renovate schools, provide learning tools, and support teachers to give every child a safe place to learn and dream.

Access to Water

We build wells and clean water systems so families no longer walk miles for this basic necessity.

Sustainable Agriculture

We help farmers restore fields, plant trees, and use smart irrigation to secure food and income.

Community Development

We expand healthcare, empower women, and create community spaces for learning and growth.

Be part of the change

Wells – Access to Clean Water

Three new wells in Tafrindt, Ighergher, and Boulahia will bring running water closer to homes, ending long trips to distant springs and easing daily life for families and farmers.

Community Center — Afourar, Azilal

A Maison de la Culture inside the school complex with a multipurpose hall, library, computer lab, and workshop rooms to promote reading, digital learning, and youth creativity while reducing dropout rates.

Farming — Food Security & Reforestation

Support for community crop fields with seeds and tractor access, plus replanting of almond and olive orchards to restore income, protect traditions, and strengthen resilience to drought.

Make a Difference Today

Your gift brings clean water, education, and hope to Atlas Mountain families.

Together, Malek and Sereen embody the values that define Anzar, transparency, accountability, and an unwavering focus on getting things done. Their vision is simple: to keep the promise they made as children in the mountains of Morocco, and to ensure that no village in the Atlas is ever forgotten.

Sereen Laraqui Gallichio

Co-Founder

Parsons graduate and Columbia master’s student, driving fundraising, partnerships, and strategy from the United States.

Malek Laraqui Gallichio

Co-Founder

NYU-trained engineer, on the ground with villagers and officials to scope needs, secure approvals, and deliver projects.

Be part of the change

Every well we build, every classroom we restore, every tree we plant begins with you. Your support turns promises into real projects that give families clean water, children the chance to learn, and farmers the tools to provide for their communities. Together, we can bring lasting progress to the Atlas Mountains, one village at a time.

Frequently Asked Questions

We start by listening to local communities. Together with village leaders and local partners, we identify the most urgent needs and design tailored, sustainable solutions.

You can support us by donating to a project, sharing our campaigns, or spreading awareness about the challenges faced by Atlas communities. Every contribution helps us build a stronger future.

Yes. All funds raised are directly applied to projects on the ground, ensuring transparency and real impact for the families and villages we serve.

Yes! You can choose to make a one-time donation or set up a recurring donation (weekly, monthly, or annually).