If you are interested in a print from this gallery, please contact me and mention the name of the photograph.
The Atlas Kinder children's village
(Dar Bouidar)
The ATLAS KINDER association had contacted me over 3 years ago to create a photographic documentary within the village of 'Dar Bouidar,' a place dedicated to welcoming Moroccan orphans.
Then came COVID, and the unforeseen events that disrupt our daily lives.
In September 2021, I received a call from the person in charge of the association in France, asking if I was available to carry it out. I was short on time and unfortunately couldn’t stay more than 5 days on-site. It was brief, but I was determined to take on the challenge! My camera captured, as faithfully as possible, what my eyes and heart were telling me. Captivated by the beautiful souls of these children and the people working to improve their lives, I decided to create a photographic book recounting this short documentary and to donate the full proceeds from each book sold to the Atlas Kinder foundation.
The Atlas Kinder Children's Village was built near the small town of Tahanaout, about 30 kilometers south of Marrakech. It was founded in 2015 by Hansjörg Huber. With the help of his partner, this Swiss man fulfilled a dream: 'where there was nothing, he created an entire village dedicated to abandoned children.' Previously an entrepreneur in the insurance industry, 'Mr. Huber' (as we all call him in this place) invested a large part of his wealth to give them a second chance.
The village has 100 employees who work daily to build a better future for these children, particularly through education and culture.
Each year, more than 1,000 volunteers come to the site and contribute their expertise.
To date, the village hosts 170 orphans, spread across 11 houses. Everything has been designed to allow them to thrive and have the same opportunities as others. This vast living space is equipped with a nursery, a school, and a daycare, but that’s not all!
A medical and dental clinic, a physiotherapy center, stables for professionals to offer equine therapy, a mosque, and a large vegetable garden have also been created.