Help for Yassin and His Family in Chefchaouen

From Our First Encounter to a New Home

How It All Began…

During our first trip to Chefchaouen in June 2022, we met Yassin, a young man suffering from a severe physical disability that significantly limits his daily life. Although our initial contact during that trip was brief, Yassin’s fate stayed with us, and we felt compelled to help him further. After returning to Germany, despite having only limited information, we began searching for him through social media and local contacts in Morocco, and eventually, we were able to locate him.

We traveled back to Morocco to visit Yassin and his family, who warmly welcomed us with traditional Moroccan dishes, despite their humble living conditions. Although they had previous negative experiences with aid organizations that had exploited them, we were able to earn their trust.

However, our visit also made us aware of the challenging living conditions they were facing. The family lived in poverty in a small village, sharing one bed among the three of them in a small, cold room with limited access to basic amenities such as warm water, a kitchen, or a functional bathroom. In the winter months, when temperatures in the mountains drop significantly, the lack of warm water made daily life even more difficult. The family’s bathroom consisted of only a hole in the floor and a bucket of cold water used for bathing, washing clothes, and doing the dishes. With just €30 of monthly income, the family struggled to meet their basic needs, making a safe and worry-free life impossible.

After our visit, we worked together to find ways to support Yassin and his family. Yassin told us about his old mobility scooter, which he used despite his walking disability, but it had broken down. Thanks to your generous donations, we were able to purchase a new scooter for him, allowing him to travel faster and pain-free to school and into town. This scooter has also made it easier for him to participate in social life with his friends, as he previously needed a lot of time to get around.

Additionally, thanks to one of our Instagram followers, we received a suitcase full of clothes and shoes, which helped the family better prepare for the winter and endure the cold. The gratitude and joy they expressed for this support were truly heartwarming.

A New Home for Yassin’s Family

Given their precarious living conditions, we decided to build a new home for Yassin and his family—one that would make their daily lives easier and free from health hazards. We hired local workers from the village to assist with the construction, providing them with a temporary steady income.

Soon after our first visit, we returned to purchase the necessary materials and began the construction work. After several months, the family now has a fully renovated home with a well-equipped kitchen, a functional bathroom, and a newly renovated room that serves as an additional sleeping or living space. A newly installed water system now ensures access to hot water, making showering, laundry, and dishwashing much easier for the family. Additionally, the roof was completely renovated, eliminating any risk of collapse.

All of this was made possible thanks to your support!

Yassin and his family are deeply grateful for your help and donations, which have fundamentally improved their living conditions. A new, safe home and additional financial support have brought a significant improvement to their daily lives.