Solar Energy: Driving Education and a Brighter Future for the Youth of Zaïo

In Morocco’s Oriental region, in the northeast of the country, socio-economic challenges are numerous: high youth unemployment, school dropouts, limited infrastructure, and a scarcity of professional training opportunities. In this context, the Mobadara Association for Sustainable Development and Tourism, founded in 2003, has established itself as a key player in local development. With 45 committed volunteers and a strong network of national and international partners, Mobadara works in the fields of education, training, environmental protection, and social inclusion.

In 2023, with the support of the Fondation Nexans, Mobadara launched an unprecedented initiative: a solar energy workshop within Zaïo’s Second Chance School, designed to train young people in difficulty for careers in renewable energy.

The Oriental Region: pressing needs, untapped potential

Stretching over 82,820 km² and home to more than 2.3 million inhabitants, the Oriental region combines rich agricultural, fishing, and industrial resources. Yet, it suffers from low population density, territorial inequalities, and incomplete urbanization. In this semi-arid territory located in the Rif, natural risks such as drought, desertification, and floods exacerbate the region’s socio-economic fragilities.

Against this backdrop, education and vocational training are the best means to stimulate the local economy. This is the mission of Second Chance Schools: to reintegrate young people who have dropped out of traditional education and help them develop employable skills. It is within this framework that Mobadara joined forces with the Nexans Foundation for the Zaïo–Nexans project.

Mobadara Vice-President Mohamed Moumni explains:
“The Zaïo–Nexans project stands out significantly. It is the only specialized solar energy program within Morocco’s Second Chance Schools.”

Training in solar energy: an innovative response

The project’s goal was clear: to give dropouts new opportunities through training in photovoltaic solar energy. This two-year program was structured as follows:

• Year 1: acquisition of theoretical knowledge and first-hand practice with solar equipment.
• Year 2: hands-on workshops, solar system installation and maintenance, and guidance toward professional integration.

Thanks to the Fondation Nexans' support, the school was equipped with a fully operational training workshop.
“We received technical support, with adapted teaching tools, as well as financial support to ensure the continuity of the project,” stresses Mohamed Moumni.

At the end of these two years, 60 students graduated, and 30 others are currently enrolled in the program. They now have multiple pathways:

• Pursuing studies in renewable energy institutes.
• Immediate employment in local companies in the solar energy sector.
• Entrepreneurship, by creating cooperatives or micro-projects in photovoltaic energy.

“We already have experience supporting the creation of cooperatives for young people from the center; we plan to do the same with the beneficiaries of this solar energy section,” adds Moumni.

Young people regaining hope for the future

The project’s real success lies in the words of the students themselves.

A model partnership to follow

The Zaïo–Nexans project has been praised by local authorities and Morocco’s Ministry of Education. For Mobadara, it demonstrates the importance of private sector involvement, such as the support of the Fondation Nexans.

“The support of a foundation like Nexans was decisive in offering young people a qualifying training program and proving that a successful partnership can have a lasting impact on education, employment, and local development,” explains Moumni.

When energy becomes a driver of opportunity

At the Fondation Nexans, we are committed to education and vocational training as powerful levers to improve living conditions. Mohamed Moumni echoes this vision:
“Solar energy is a sector of the future, with strong employability potential, aligned with Morocco’s national priorities in energy transition.”

In the framework of a Second Chance School, photovoltaics brings hope and career prospects to marginalized youth while contributing to Morocco’s green transition.

“Thanks to the Nexans Foundation, we gained valuable experience… We strongly recommend that other associations apply for its support,” concludes Moumni