2019-08-01
Starrt Date
Completed
Status
1800
Raised
2000
Goal
In 2019, while still in high school, Malek and Sereen partnered with a U.S.-based nonprofit to fund and build the first bathrooms at a public school in Igerferouane, a small village in the Al Haouz region of Morocco. Until then, the school had no proper sanitation. Privacy and hygiene were impossible, and many girls stopped attending classes once they reached puberty.
The two students met with the school director, spoke with families, and coordinated with local authorities to confirm the most urgent needs. They raised funds, sourced durable fixtures, and hired local builders so that the project would benefit the community’s economy as well. Construction focused on simple, reliable solutions that the school could maintain long term.
Within months, two clean bathrooms with handwashing stations and a hot shower were completed. Teachers reported immediate changes. Girls who had been missing days began returning regularly. Parents expressed relief that their daughters could continue learning in safety and dignity. What began as a student initiative became a practical model for low-cost, community-led improvements that remove a major barrier to girls’ education.
The project had a profound and measurable effect on the school community:
Increased Attendance: Girls who previously missed school during menstruation returned to class regularly, reducing absenteeism by more than 60%.
Improved Retention: No female student dropped out due to lack of sanitation after the facilities were completed.
Enhanced Well-Being: Access to clean bathrooms and a hot shower restored privacy, dignity, and confidence, especially for adolescent girls.
Better Hygiene: Students and teachers adopted improved hygiene practices thanks to handwashing stations and consistent water access.
Community Empowerment: Local builders and families participated in the construction, reinforcing ownership and long-term maintenance.
Educational Equity: The project removed a major gender-based barrier, creating a more inclusive and supportive learning environment.
2025-10-01
The new bathrooms transformed daily life at the Igerferouane school. Girls who once stayed home regained privacy and dignity, attendance improved, and the community gained a lasting model for low-cost, gender-sensitive infrastructure.
Schoolgirls 10–16 at Igerferouane public school, including menstruating students
