2023 IMPACT REPORT

Project Soar’s 2023 Impact Report

: MENSTRUATION DOES NOT STOP IN NATURAL DISASTERS 2023 Impact Report

Soar

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Dear Supporters and Partners, As I reflect on 2023, I am reminded of the immense challenges that have tested the resilience of communities in Morocco.

The devastating earthquake that struck the Marrakech region in September 2023 not only caused physical destruction but also left deep emotional and psychological scars. I believe that in the aftermath of any disaster, the true measure of a community is not found in the wreckage, but in how it mobilizes in its aftermath. At Project Soar, we wanted to do our part and I am proud to share the strides we have made in our efforts. Recognizing that the impact of a disaster goes beyond the visible damage, our team prioritized mental health for students as a cornerstone of our relief efforts, building on our signature mental health workshops for teens. We didn’t want these young people to lose their futures, as a result of this tragedy. We quickly signed a partnership agreement with the Ministry of Education’s regional delegation for Marrakech-Safi and began work at the 10 boarding schools where middle and high school students who had lost their homes had been relocated. We hired and trained 12 Mental Health Mentors who worked tirelessly to help students better identify and manage their emotions, offering guidance, comfort, and hope to those struggling with loss. In addition to our mental health support initiatives, we focused on addressing a crucial but often overlooked need: menstrual health. The disaster disrupted access to basic hygiene products, leaving many women and girls without essential supplies. In response, we hired and trained 10 Menstrual Health Mentors and launched a menstrual kit distribution program to reach women and girls across affected communities. These kits, containing sanitary products and educational materials, not only provided immediate relief but also empowered women and girls to manage their health with dignity during this challenging time. An unforgettable moment was assembling 625 menstrual kits shoulder-to-shoulder with the Managing Director of the IMF and senior staff of the World Bank during their 2023 Annual Meetings in Marrakech.

The road to recovery is long, but with your continued partnership, we are confident that we can make a lasting difference. We want to especially thank partners who stepped in to provide us with disaster relief funding, including PeaceWinds Korea, PeaceWinds Japan, Project Hope, Global Giving, Kinder, the Canadian Embassy, the IMF and World Bank. Beyond our work to support earthquake victims, we were proud to continue our core work to empower teen girls across Morocco and in Northern Syria. 2023 saw 643 girls graduate from our signature program to help teen girls understand their Value, Voice, Body, Rights and Path. Across Morocco, 1549 girls also mobilized to advocate for their rights and co-construct solutions in 87 dialogues with 4,366 community members. A highlight was when BIGGER, the NGO coalition that Project Soar spearheads, was invited by the Ministry of Justice to present their amendments to the Family Code in order to close legal loopholes to child marriage. Our teen girl-led delegation made a lasting impression given the flurry of media articles that ensued. Our work is made possible due to the help and support of our donors, board members and you, our supporters! Your generosity and compassion have made our work possible, and together, we have touched countless lives. I also can’t thank enough the tireless efforts of the Project Soar team – our team in our Marrakech HQ and our Soar women facilitators all across Morocco and in Northern Syria. As we look to the future, we invite you to join us in continuing this important work. Let us stand together, united in our mission to bring hope and empowerment to teen girls and other marginalized communities.Thank you for being a part of our journey.

Warmly, Maryam Montague Project Soar Founder and Executive Director

WHAT Nonprofit organization, registered in Morocco and as a US 501(c)3

WHEN

Established in 2013

WHERE Morocco & Syria Headquartered in Marrakech

WHO

Underserved teen girls

HOW Signature empowerment solution and advocacy campaigns helping teen girls understand and fight for their:

VALUE VOICE BODY RIGHTS PATH

The Soar Mission

The Soar Pledge

Project Soar in a Bag Morocco 2023 1549

49

40

Soar Girls

Soar Clubs

Soar Sites

71

Soar Squads

___Soar 112

Facilitators

86 Soar

Dialogues

1.310

Empowerment workshops delivered

4,340

Community members

2.592 Menstrual underwear distributed

Earthquake Emergency Relief Aid 2023 6,078 Teen boys & girls beneficiaries

131 Mental & Menstrual workshops

50

22

Schools & villages

Mentors

32,000

24,500

Single-use menstrual products distributed

Reusable menstrual products distributed

7

Impact data (PSB)

99%

.03%

of Soar Girls plan to go to the next grade level

of Soar Girls dropped out of school

99% of Soar Girls passed the school year

88%

0 Soar Girls married underage

of eligible Soar Girls passed the BAC1 Exam

Impact data

Emergency

Menstrual Health workshops reported a better understanding of how their bodies work during menstruation

reported a better understanding of how to track her menstrual cycle

98% of beneficiaries

understood how to use a reusable sanitary pad reported a better understanding of how menstruations can cause physical and emotional discomfort

reported a better understanding of how to manage menstrual pain

99% 95%

reported a better understanding of how to identify their emotions

of the 779 students surveyed found the workshop useful

93%

a better understanding of how to manage their emotions

Mental Health workshops

PSB Morocco Where we worked this year:

The Project Soar empowerment curriculum is packaged into a scalable, portable kit called Soar in a Bag - previously Soar in a Box - that provides all the tools needed for a team of 2 trained local women ‘Empowerment Facilitators’ to lead a ‘squad’ of 20 teen girls through the program. As a Soar Girl progresses through the curriculum, she undergoes a transformative process whereby she further develops her self-confidence; speaks up; embraces her adolescent body; fights for her rights; and sets future goals. Over the course of the program, girls are mentored to increasingly facilitate the program themselves, creating a sustainable mechanism that fosters self-mastery of skills attained and peer to peer learning.

Earthquake Emergency Relief Aid

Where we worked: Boarding schools and houses in Marrakech Safi region

Oulad Dlim Madrassa El Atika Sidi Zouine Dar Sraghna Institut Cadi Ayad Dar Rhamna Sup De Co Private University of Marrakech (UPM) Lycee Qualifiant Mohammed VI Center Idriss El Aoual ''2eme chance'' Assif El Mal (Chichaoua) Ben Youssef High School Cadi Ayad Junior High Annakhil Junior High Chouiter Ibn Maja High School Bir Anzarane Toubkal Allal El Fassi

Boarding schools and houses in Marrakech Safi region

Immediate Earthquake Emergency Relief Menstruation does not stop in natural disasters. Despite an urgent need for menstrual products, vulnerable women and teen girl survivors of natural disasters often face menstrual insecurity affecting their physical and mental health and, for teen girls, their education as well.

According to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), women are often hardest hit from natural disasters but the resulting response from the aid community is often gender-blind.

What did Project Soar do?

Reusable pads or underwear

Bucket

Bar of soap

32,000

Single-use menstrual products distributed 10

Since September 8, 2023 when the earthquake struck Morocco, Project Soar has worked tirelessly to address the gender-specific needs of women and girls and reduce the shame by distributing menstrual products for teen girls and women from the areas hardest hit by the earthquake.

To date, we have provided thousands of menstrual pads providing a menstrual solution for hundreds of women and girls in need in the earthquake affected areas of Marrakech as well as orphanages and villages in the High Atlas Mountains giving them the ability to effectively manage their periods with dignity.

Thanks to Canadian Embassy Peace Winds Korea KINDER USA Global Giving + individual donors

Collaboration with IMF & World Bank to distribute menstrual products to earthquake affected villages

On the occasion of the 2023 Global Annual Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank held in Marrakech, Project Soar was chosen as the Partner and Charity to host the annual volunteering event for World Bank and IMF senior staff from around the world.

At this event on October 8, 2023, 625 menstrual health and hygiene kits were assembled for distribution to hundreds of women earthquake survivors in Asni, High Atlas Mountains.

What was in the kit?

Reusable underwear

Kristalina Georgieva, IMF Director

Shampoo

Wash cloth

Bucket

Toothbrush & paste

Bar of soap

Hand sanitizer 11

Emergency Relief

1,554

259

20

10

2

Menstrual reusable products distributed

Teen girls beneficiaries

Workshops delivered

Mentors trained

Schools activated

1,227

111

12

7

Teen girls + boys beneficiaries

Workshops delivered

Mentors trained

Schools activated

Maryam Montague & Moulay Ahmed El Karimi Founder & Executive Director Project Soar

Director of the Marrakech-Safi AREF

Movement to end child marriage

STAND As King Mohammed VI has instructed new amendments to the Moudawana Family Code - Project Soar and the BIGGER Movement have been carrying on the efforts to raise awareness and advocate to end child marriage in Morocco

7 CSOs partners

225 Teen girls members

16 Teen girls’ led stakeholders meetings

With the generous support of CISU and Civil Connections, Project Soar was able to extend the BIGGER program via STAND, a program designed to equip community service organizaions (CSOs) with advocacy training. In September 2023, facilitators from 7 CSOs joined a multi-day training in Marrakech where they had the opportunity to learn about advocacy, effective tools for advocacy, and most importantly how to lead their squads in advocacy efforts.

14% of Moroccan women are married under 18 and 1% under 15? And the numbers are probably extremely higher, when considering unregistered child marriages, which do not appear in official statistics!

BIGGER AL OUIDANE This year, Project Soar launched a regionally-specific campaign against child marriage in the Al-Ouidane community.11 Soar Girls from the AlOuidane community were trained to lead presentations and perform a play focused on a girl who experienced child marriage. Girls also led their campaigns by meeting with local stakeholders, and of particular note their school directors.

CHILD MARRIAGE THEATRE PLAY With input from Soar girls, Soar staff developed “I Am a Girl,” a feminist theater play with a thematic focus on child marriage.

I Am a Girl tells the story of Asmae, a 15year-old girl from a modest home in a typical Moroccan neighborhood.

Asmae’s father, Al Mokhtar, befriends Hamid, a 35 year old wealthy man.

Eventually, Hamid seeks Asmae’s hand in marriage, leading her to become part of a statistic that 14% of girls in Morocco are married before the age of 18. The play outlines the remainder of Hamid and Asmae’s relationship in her fight against child marriage.

Building Resources to Include and Develop Girls’ Expertise Program (BRIDGE) In 2023, Project Soar engaged more alumni than ever Through funding from the Global Fund for Women, Project Soar launched BRIDGE commonly referred as GRADS, a project focused on preparing girls for their future through career development opportunities.

The first year of GRADS was dedicated to mapping and surveying alumni across Morocco:

862 Alumni mapped & surveyed 535 Alumni members of facebook group 2

MOUs - Memorandum of understanding - signed with University Hassan II - Ain Chock in Casablanca & Cadi Ayyad in Marrakech Girls attended an EFE (Education for Employment)

43 training, on how to develop their CVs 10 Scholarships to study English 16

PARTNERSHIP

with the American English skills are becoming increasingly important in Language As Morocco, Project Soar girls are eager to learn and improve Centre their English skills. With generous support from the ALCs (ALC) Soar girls were in Marrakech & Fez 10 granted scholarships

PARTNERSHIP

with the Ministry of Solidarity, Social Integration & Family We are thrilled to have signed a national partnership agreement to implement the project

Family Bridge for Prevention against School Dropouts and the Marriage of Minors

PROJECT SOAR IN A BAG (PSB)

IN SYRIA

Girls Soar in Syria is a program aimed at empowering internally displaced and at-risk hots community teen girls. This year Project Soar expanded our reach in Syria as part of Maryam Montague’s fellowship with Blossom Hill Foundation.

Since January 2023, Project Soar has had the opportunity to work with two partners based in Northwest & Northeast Syria: Takaful Al Sham (TAS) and Josor Asalam. Of note, targeted Syria’s most vulnerable girls including girls from Al Hol Camp, as well as girls with disabilities.

119 PSB workshops

2 PSB locations 9 5

PSB squads

PSB facilitators

111 PSB girls beneficiaries 16

girls formerly at Al-Hol camp

11

Girls with

9 Disabilities Internally Displaced Teen Girls

Emergency Relief How did we support teen girls & their families in the aftermath of the earthquake

When the earthquake hit northern Syria on February 6, 2022, Project Soar provided the girls participating in our empowerment program with a menstrual solution and distributed menstrual pads to hundreds of girls, as well as food baskets, clothing, blankets and other basic and needed hygiene items.

16,000

Menstrual pads distributed

8

3

Shelters + Schools assisted and visited in Azaz

Psychological sessions conducted

19

EQUITY CHAMPIONS

Engaging #EquityChampions: Project Soar, in collaboration with MCISE, was awarded with a grant under the Pan African Equity Accelerator sponsored by UPS and Ashoka Arab World to raise awareness on allyship for gender equity in Morocco.

We developed a campaign Tshirt and partnered with 15+ Moroccan influencers, who attended a campaign training at Project Soar’s community center in Douar Ladaam.

BIGGER Health, funded by AmplifyChange Employability project in partnership with SISAL New collaboration to support teen girls in Syria, thanks to Blossom Hill and Sharon and Scott Nichols & let’s not forget our core solution Project Soar in a Bag, to empower teen girls from marginalised and underserved rural areas

28 MAY 2023 MHM DAY

(social media campaign realised by Leila Moustafy)

Impact Global

since 2017

5,760+ Direct Soar Girls empowered

397

Women Facilitators trained

36,000 Menstrual shame-free underwear distributed

9,510 Empowerment Workshops delivered

138

167

Soar Locations activated

Soar Dialogues held

Meet Bouchra, Soar Facilitator in Guelmim We are so lucky to have many inspiring empowerment facilitators at Project Soar, and Bouchra is definitely one of them! Bouchra is a nursing student and joined Project Soar to contribute to the defense of girls’ rights and because “Our society does not give real value to girls” - Bouchra

“We should work with the youth first in order to change the society; We want a good one for our future” As an active member of her community, she volunteers in initiatives related to children's education and cultural activities. She strongly believes in the power of education and women empowerment; as she and the other facilitators guide and encourage Soar Girls, she holds great hope for the next generation of women!

"I always encourage my daughter to go to Project Soar : with her new bike her motivation to attend will be further enhanced!”

- Soar Girl’s Father

It is estimated that 5.6% of girls in rural Morocco drop out of school. This phenomenon can be explained by various factors, among which the long and dangerous commute some girls face to reach their school, sometimes up to 2 hours walking distance.

Thanks to the generosity of donor 88Bikes, Soar Girls were gifted bikes so that their home-school commute is made safer and more accessible.

So many girls drop out of school because of distance and en-route hazard: 30 Soar Girls are now now ready to whizz around on their new rides in complete safety!

The girls, accompanied by their parents, attended the event which was filled with emotion. The parents, showed great pride, joy and gratitude in knowing that their daughters will be able to attend school more easily!

$50,000-110,000

$1,000 - 14,999

Peace Winds Japan Project Hope Trotula Fund Civil Connections/CISU Personio

Augustin Huynh Joseph Stewart Larry Cooley Thierry Marchand Marina Fanning Friends of Morocco Shea Fontana Sharon and Scott Nichols Ernie & Jeanne Gabiati Marin Community Foundation DiMarco/Harleen Charitable Fund Cynthia Wainwright Keith Granet Elaine Case David Labourdette Louis Mitchell Jody Cross Sandra Clinton Mike Halladay Schwab Charitable - Tracy McColloch Tripler Pell Giving Fund Erika Brechtel Élanoura Jamie Leigh John Novotny Aziz Nahas Courtney Barton Phyllis C. Meyer Karen N. Nuccitelli KINDER USA Ashoka Collaboration Fund Nataliya Borener Paula Eaton Gary Sklarew Tawfik Hammoud Seth Leighton Erin Lewis Butler and Michelle Eaton Lila Brown - Lambert Bridge Winery International Study Programs, s.r.o.

Charities Aid Foundation Opportunity Collaboration Summit Facebook Lisa Moriyama Family Fund Morans Liquor Works LLC Julie and Rogers Weed Gates Matching 88 BIKES San Francisco Foundation Karen Pfeifer

$15,000-$49,999 Peace Winds Korea Canadian Fund for Local Initiatives in Morocco (CFLI) International Monetary Fund Amplify Change Blossom Hill Foundation UNFPA Maroc AFD - Expertise France Blossom Hill Global Giving The Akharas Foundation American Online Giving Foundation

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Donors

Our Amazing

$500 - $999 Fouad Farah Cyril Dumuis Natasha Dadlani Nitin Mitra Rachid Rahib Nancy Ryan Amy Butler Design Nancy Pendarvis Harris Kathryn Greenberg Kirsti Goodwin Larry Salustro James Pooley Traci Thomas Yaseen Jumaan Marsha Perreault Tina Davis Kate Murphy Devonshire The English Garden Shop Monte Achenbach Carson Fustes Kim Dunham Leung Gerrit Nicholas Maureen Colvin Jennifer Harr Bridget OToole Mandana Parsazad Christy Sheerin Dianne Sivulka Nicole Perkins Anna Egleston Wafae Bouqayes Tracy Martinez Heart + Souk

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Project Soar has expanded core programming and launched new initiatives thanks to our supportive partners and generous contributors. We are particularly grateful for the generous support of our recurring donors Civil Connection/CISU, Personio and Trotula Fund, as well as our firsttime donors Peace Winds Japan and Project Hope. Because of the trust they have given us, we have been able to empower more and more underserved teen girls.

Project Soar staff & Soar Girls are deeply thankful for the heartfelt gifts from all donors of 2023

Team Soar

Executive Staff

HQ Staff

Soukaina Naciri Hanane Kharrazi Finance Finance Coordinator Coordinator

Reda Kaddach AdminIstration Assistant

Kellie Quinn Program Manager

Kaoutar Ait Malek Senior Program Coordinator

Aziza El Azizi Program Coordinator

Meriem Bretiza Program Coordinator

Warda Bouye Program Coordinator

Kaoutar Arhenbou Program Coordinator

(left to right) Maryam Montague Founder & Executive Director Kaydee Dahlin Director of Finance & Administration

Board Members Morocco Board Members Chris Redecke, President Larbi Menhebi, Vice President Loubna Erraji, Vice President Aziz Nahas, Treasurer Safae Bennani, Secretary

Khadija Boulahcen Hanane Ait Program Ouakrim, Program Coordinator Coordinator

Said El Bennani Emergency Coordinator

US Board Members Marina Fanning, President Sarita Jha, Treasurer Patrick Benjaminson Jacqueline Asimwe Caitlin Dowe-Sandes Olayide Odediran Medya Abdulhuseyin Hadi Akharas Tala Hadid Lalla-Zineb el Mazouni Mannix Idonea Lenderking

Sara Chatiri Program Coordinator

Kenza El Khamsi Emergency Coordinator

Michelle Eaton Development Coordinator

Ines Mourao Victoria Di Gaetano Touria El Kerroumi Intern & Comms & Development Cleaner & Coordinator graphic designer Cooker 28

Empowerment Facilitators

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Amina Ouaddi Nouhi Fatima Laila Hasibi Meryem Ezzite Ouantar Ikram Bouchra Aznkd Khadija Ijioui Awatif Atbib Najowa Logmani Nadia Guousla Najia Lotfi Radia Moudian Khadija Baba Hanna Akmach Rabiaa Fatima Jamal Nouhayla Lamsiah Fatima Sloulou Khadija Sokaina Amazu Lamyae Zhaoui Ikram Bani Souad Dahmane Dahmane Laaziza Aouijil Raja Segaoui Zohra Meriem Alqoh Merrouni Afafe Ghizlane Tahraoui Aicha Aissa Ajaiz Karima Boukhari Naoual Ikrame El Hijour Imane Bziouite Naima Boulaghla Fadwa Zhaoui Fatima Nouhi Bouchra Talhata Messaoudi Hajar Sanaa El Ansari Layla Sarir Khadouj Saouab

Zineb Faris Khaoula Mami Salma Mami Raja Chakir Mama Mourtaki Hasna Boudad Salma Bouye Habiba Meziane Imane Essarghini Khadija Boudrar Chayma Mouyane Dalila Chitach Hajar Idaali Loubna El Hassani Kawthar Messaoudi Latifa Akhsasy Fatiha Idbdalaah Dounia Mouyane Soukaina Zaihour Baha Benaadou Chaimae Benadou Fatima Zahra Zaaf Ilham Guerfouss Madiha Idgharenan Hafsa El Korchi Oumaima Beddiaf Keltouma El Moustarhni Fatima Zahra Zaaf Soukaina Selimani Maryem El Missioui Kaoutar Ouchmani Nisrine Oudra Amina ait abderrahmane Zaina Ait Ali Fatimazzahra Jennah Fouzia Essaiydy Soukaina Amazu Fatima Afkir Ouanane Hajar Hind Taqi Meriem Toufiq

Naima Azzal Aicha Ezziadi Amina Abouri Nawal El Fajri Fatima Ezzahra Allaoui Mariam Assouik Kaouthar Hsaini Mina Meziane Meriem Britiza Aya Lahmidi

Mental Health & Menstrual Health Mentors Maha Mezouar Oumaima Mazouz Kenza Cherkaoui Soukaina El Farouk Hafsa Mchiouer Imane Tajidi Safa Debbagh Ghizlane Manyari Wafa Ikhrazene Ihssane Srairi Yaakoubi Youssef Sanae Chatir Rabia Yakouti Johaina Hachad Kaoutar Tarbouch Majda Bouimgare Zineb Ben Yahya Imane Hmaidat Saida Zin Ali Amendach Mohamed Kaabouch Mohamed Kerroumi

Thank you!

& Financials

INCOMING REVENUES

Individuals $11,045.47

Corporate $27,252.20

Foundations $183,824.00

Grants $120,861.72

$309,988.49 Moroccan Association

$528,047.41 U.S. Association 501(c)3

Grants $298,943.02

Individuals $196,109.49

OUTGOING EXPENSES

Personnel $112,520.81000

Other Direct Costs $53,614.68000 Personnel $162,806.86000

Grants $213,096.70000

$219,583.31 U.S. Association 501(c)3

Social Benefits $10,794.50000

$448,974.58 Moroccan Association Contractuals $8,687.19000

Supplies $44,027.26000

Supplies $128,861.97000 Contractuals Travel $30,462.62000 $48,526.31000

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Soar

‫تحليق‬ prendre son envol

Call to Action

Teenage girls have the right to

pursue their dreams and ambitions, no matter how big or audacious they may seem. They have the right to express themselves without fear of

judgment

importantly,

or

ridicule.

they

Most

deserve

to

demand their rights and be heard.

Teen girls are powerful agents of change, capable of shaking up the status quo and breaking down the barriers that hold them back. So, let's celebrate teen girls' rights and continue to support their brilliance!

By making a donation, YOU can help to improve the world by giving teen girls the skills they need to become the leaders of today and tomorrow.

Contact Us Residence Adam Angle Rue Abou Bakr Seddik, Hivernage, Marrakech, 40020 giveback@projectsoar.org

Follow Us Facebook: @projectsoar Instagram: @projectoar Twitter: @projectsoar LinkedIn: @projectsoar TikTok: @project.soar

Investing in teen girls is investing in the future of the women that they will become!