Ever since I was a child, the fact that school wasn't close by meant that my sisters couldn't finish their studies, and they all had to go out to work while they were still young. This had such an impact on me that I decided to become a decathlete in the Tiznit region, to which I later returned. There was always the big problem of school wastage, especially among girls, pupils and schoolgirls.
I wanted to take action in my native country by helping to get young girls into school. This project even received government support a few years after it was set up.
One day, I met the humanitarian association "Juste pour eux", which helps children in rural areas of Morocco. Together, we decided to build the "Un vélo pour Elles" project. With 80% of girls dropping out of school, it was high time we took action in the region.
The Decathlon Foundation distributed 330 bicycles to these 11-year-old girls to help them find their way back to school. Eight years later, 70% of these girls had passed their baccalaureate and gone on to further education. Some had even become executives or managers in various sectors, while others joined the Decathlon teams.
Wastage in the region has fallen by 10% in less than 10 years. It's a success story that has inspired the Moroccan government. It has in turn distributed 400,000 bicycles to schoolchildren throughout the country.
When I was a child, the school was far away so my sisters had to end their education and all had to go to work at a young age. It affected me so much that it became my Decathlonian project in the Tiznit region, to which I later returned. Dropping out of school was still a big problem, especially among girls in primary and secondary school.
I wanted to take action in my homeland by taking part in encouraging young girls to stay in school. This project even received support from the State a few years after it was set up.
One day, I met the humanitarian association "juste pour eux", which helps children in rural areas of Morocco. Together, we decided to build the "un vélo pour Elles" project [whose name means "a bike for the girls"]. With 80% of young girls dropping out of school, it was really time to take action in the region.
The Decathlon Foundation therefore gave out 330 bikes to those little 11-year-old girls, so they could simply get back on the path to knowledge. Eight years later, 70% of those young girls had earned their baccalaureate and continued with their education. Some had even become executives or managers in various industries, and others joined Decathlon's teams.
There was a 10% fall in the number of school drop-outs in the region in 10 years. This was a real success which inspired the Moroccan State. In turn, the State gave out 400,000 bikes to schoolchildren all around the country.
