Ouirgane (Al Haouz) – In the face of adversity, some people are able to remain composed and dignified in their pain, like Khadija Idmbark, a survivor of the violent earthquake that shook the El Haouz region on September 8, 2023.

Nearly a year later, Khadija recalls that terrible night that completely turned her life upside down, yet without diminishing her strong determination to rebuild everything.

“That day, I lost two of my daughters after our home collapsed. This tragedy has left an indelible mark of pain on my soul,” says the 50-year-old, her voice choked with emotion, her eyes filled with tears.

Khadija is the owner of a café-restaurant located in Ouirgane, a rural village nestled in the mountains of the High Atlas (62 km from Marrakech).

Always on the move, she skillfully juggles between the kitchen of her café and the terrace that overlooks the beautiful landscape of Lake Ouirgane, where her customers come to sip mint tea or enjoy the delicious tagines she prepares with care and passion.

“My day
starts at dawn. As soon as the first light appears, I put on my apron and get to work,” she continues, her face suddenly brightened by a radiant smile.

Her work involves expertly preparing exquisite dishes whose aroma fills the entire neighborhood, all done with joy and good cheer.

With a smile here, and kind words there, she has managed to make her café-restaurant much more than just a workplace – it has become a space for exchange, conviviality, and collective therapy for her community and customers.

Sitting on the steps leading to the door of her home, located in the El Bour village, Khadija explains how, after her husband’s illness a decade ago, she decided to take over the management of this family establishment.

In the evening, like seagulls returning to their nests, she is also a devoted and caring mother. Despite her long workdays, she finds the time and energy to take care of her family members and share moments of closeness with her daughters, who are always ready to help with daily tasks.

Anot
her day dawns in Ouirgane. Life resumes its course. Like the ancient olive trees clinging to this blessed land, Khadija, like all the inhabitants of her village, is more determined than ever to rise again.

Source: Agence Marocaine De Presse