Resilient Communities
Around The World

Ninety-Five percent of the world’s olive trees are located in the Mediterranean region. As a result, many municipalities suffer from finding a solution to the wastewater (OWW) produced by olive oil production. The Marrakech-Safi region has additional environmental challenges within the artisanal sector, particularly in Tameslouht. Due to its arid climate, wood is scarce, which forces potters to burn tires to power their kilns. When considering alternative designs for Tameslouht’s pottery sector it is important to consciously merge traditional with modern practice and design. The EnergyXchange case study was the cornerstone of the thesis and the starting point for the development of Tameslouht’s own waste-powered kiln project utilizing methane gas that uses OWW as a substrate for production and solid was te for combustion.

In partnership with the Tassdert Youth Association, this project focuses on safeguarding a well in a small village in Souss Valley, Morocco, that has become a public danger to residents. The initiative involves rebuilding and replacing the well door with a new, secure one to ensure safety and prevent accidents. This project addresses urgent safety concerns and helps protect the community from potential hazards associated with the well. By enhancing the well’s security, we aim to improve overall safety and contribute to the well-being of the village's residents.

The 2018-2019 Environmental Engineering Capstone Project focused on designing a methane gas capping system for the wastewater treatment anaerobic ponds. The potential use of the methane can be for the new pottery kiln prototypes or for household use. A prototype small-batch reactor is in the process of being designed to verify the cubic meters of methane produced and determine the best gas scrubbing process.

Resilient Communities has consistently implemented the Zwin-Up activity beginning in the neighborhood of Almajdoub and expanding outward. We purchase 40 pots from The Alibdaa Cooperative of Pottery and Ceramics in Tameslouht and 40 plants from a local nursery. Then, we place two pots to each door and then paint the pots with the neighborhood kids. We have worked with exchange groups to help fund the activity and bring their students to volunteer. The activity has gained recognition throughout Tameslouht, hopefully inspiring other associations to implement in other neighborhoods.

In partnership with the Tassdert Youth Association, this project aims to enhance water access in a small village in Souss Valley, Morocco. The initiative involves installing solar panels to power a well and deepening the well to improve water extraction capabilities. This effort addresses the critical issue of water scarcity in the region and supports the local community's ability to manage drought conditions more effectively. The project will provide a sustainable solution to increase water availability for residents and local agriculture, fostering resilience against climate challenges.

For the 2017-2018 academic year, Resilient Communities created a senior capstone project for the mechanical engineering students. The team also consisted of two environmental engineering students, one EnvE professor, and a ceramics instructor who worked together to create the best possible solution to address Tameslouht's traditional, and yet toxic, pottery kilns powered by burning tires.

For the 2019-2020 academic year, the environmental engineering students are designing a landfill and waste management facility in Tameslouht. The report and designs produced will be used to support waste separation and reuse by utilizing the solid waste data gathered by Eastman during his Fulbright research.

We recently teamed up with the Center for Language and Culture in Marrakech (CLC) to provide social engagement activities for their exchange NSLI-Y students. We organized activities at the Tameslouht Youth Center and Sports Center with our partner association, Youth for Development Without Borders. We gathering ambitious local students to work with the exchange students to develop their own activity to facilitate during the Zwin-Up activity. On another day, we had fun playing soccer with the same students, opening opportunities for cross-cultural dialogue between high school students.

Resilient Communities has partnered with Fiers et Forts Youth House in Tameslouht to offer collaborative activities for exchange students to engage with the kids living there. The center is well-known in Tameslouht, housing over 40 kids at any given time. They are heavily focused on environmental education, creative and performing arts, and sports. The children are always excited to participate and meet Moroccans from other cities or foreigners from other countries. We had great activities with exchange students from Cape Henry High School with the Morocco Exchange program and NSLI-Y students from the CLC.