Bring Hope to Children with Special Needs in Morocco

Hi, I’m Fatima Azzahra Mastari.

I recently left a 15-year career in oral surgery in Paris to pursue a lifelong calling: creating a transformative space for children with special needs in my home country of Morocco. Alongside my sister—a dedicated special educator with over a decade of experience—our dream is to build a supportive environment for children with disabilities and their families, providing them with the care, resources, and community they deserve.

Why We’re Starting This Journey

Some statistics: « According to the national disability survey conducted by the Ministry of Solidarity in 2016, approximately 6.8% of the general population in Morocco, representing 2,264,672 people, have some form and degree of disability. Furthermore, the survey reveals that at least one out of every four families in Morocco (24.5% of all households) has at least one member with a disability ». Abdelaziz Arssi. Towards the Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Morocco.T I E, Vol. 2, No.1, 2024

Our journey is deeply personal. My sister, a childhood cancer survivor, has devoted her life to working with children facing autism, Down syndrome, and other developmental challenges. However, despite her unwavering dedication, she often encounters significant limitations in available resources. Her passion and vision for change, along with her hesitation to take on this journey alone, inspired me to step back from my career in France and join her in this mission.

Through my own work, I have seen the struggles families face in finding proper care and community for their children, even in a well-resourced country like France. Knowing how much greater these challenges are in Morocco only strengthens our resolve to build a space where children with special needs can thrive.

A heartbreaking experience especially motivates us: the loss of one of her students, a talented young boy with autism who had a natural gift for painting. After a school break, she returned to the devastating news that he had passed away. Without adequate support, his family was overwhelmed, unsure where to turn for the assistance needed to care for their precious child.

This tragic outcome is not unique. According to a recent 2024 British Journal of Psychiatry study, individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) face a mortality risk 7.5 times higher than the general population. This risk, often linked to factors such as epilepsy and suicide, translates to a life expectancy averaging just 54 years compared to the general population’s 70 years.

We believe no family should face such loss or isolation. With our combined backgrounds, we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive space where these children can thrive and their families can find the support they need.

Our Vision and Mission

We envision a space where these children can grow, learn, and connect, and where their families can find guidance and community.

How We Plan to Make This Happen

How You Can Help

Join us in making a lasting difference. Your generosity will help us build a community where these marginalized children are empowered, supported, and embraced. Your investment, no matter how large or small, will give special education and social working people the education to lift up these children, who really have few other options in Moroccan society.

Your donation WILL change lives!

« I would rather be a "no one" with a mission than a, "someone" without one »

“Never underestimate the heart of a champion”

Rudy Tomjonavich-Former NBA Head Coach of the Houston Rockets