Couscous Cooperative

Couscous is a delicious small-grain pasta common in Mediterranean cooking. In an earlier post I discussed the tradition of couscous Friday dinners. Today we went to a couscous production cooperative, where poorer women can make a living making couscous the old fashioned way.

Aisha is the founder of the cooperative and a very prominent citizen in Guelmim. She has been recognized many times for her outreach and work for economic development including by the king himself. Locally she is known as the "Iron Woman" for her strength and purpose.

We spent a long time joking and having a good time with this pillar of the community. We purchased several bags of couscous (no haggling on this transaction). I paid a bit extra so that they could give a free bag to a family in need. This type of Zakat, or charity, is respected in the Islamic world. 

Below I am pictured with my couscous, Aisha, and the headmaster of Excellence High School.