News Center — The story of the book "Al-Wa'irat: Stories of Heroines Who Know No Impossible"—known in French as Les Intrépides—begins with a question that seems simple but carries profound meaning: who are the women that Moroccan children recognize as heroines and role models?

In childhood, heroism often comes from the pages of fairy tales—princesses, warriors, and superheroes who defy the impossible. But a team of Moroccan women saw that reality itself is full of heroines, and that Morocco abounds with women who have lived exceptional experiences and succeeded in science, arts, sports, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and culture—yet their stories do not occupy the same space in children's imaginations.

From this, the idea of "Al-Wa'irat" was born—an initiative launched by the association "Mentor'Elles," founded in 2016 to professionally empower women through mentoring, inspiration, training, and networking. However, this project decided to go further than women already in professional life, reaching an earlier stage—the stage of shaping the child's dream itself.

From Reality to Story

The goal of "Al-Wa'irat" was not to produce an academic book detailing biographies, nor an encyclopedia compiling the names of successful Moroccan women. The idea was closer to storytelling.

The project's founders wanted to take real-life paths of Moroccan women and present them in language accessible to children and youth, so that the scientist, engineer, artist, athlete, entrepreneur, and activist become characters young readers can imagine.

Thus, the book occupies a middle ground between biography, storytelling, educational book, and cultural documentation. It draws from real facts and personalities, but presents them not in a dry academic form—rather, transforming their paths into readable and memorable stories.

The Beginning Was in 2023

On March 8, 2023, coinciding with International Women's Day, the first volume of "Al-Wa'irat" was published, featuring the stories of ten Moroccan women from different fields and experiences. Among them were photographer and activist Leila Alaoui, mountaineer Bouchra Baibanou, open-water swimmer Nadia Benbathan, physicist and researcher Raja Cherkaoui El Moursli, human rights activist Aicha Chenna, sports champion and sports administrator Nawal El Moutawakel.

The list also included Emilie Kin, Asma Lamrabet, Fatima Mernissi, and Chaibia Talal—women from different worlds, but united by one thing: they carved a place for themselves in fields that were not always easy or equally open to women.

Behind these stories lay research work to gather and verify information, contact the personalities or their relatives, and consult historians and intellectuals, before reformulating the material into simplified narratives suitable for the target audience. Thus, "Al-Wa'irat" was not merely a process of selecting well-known names, but an attempt to transform Moroccan women's memory into material accessible to children at home, at school, and in their hands as an illustrated book.

In 2025, the Story Expands

Two years after the first volume, "Al-Wa'irat" returned in March 2025 with a second volume—this time featuring fifteen stories and women's paths. This expansion demonstrated that the project was not a passing initiative but was beginning to become an ongoing series.

In this volume, the map expands further. Amina Iraqi El Alaoui appears through her work with people with disabilities; Choumicha Chafai comes from the world of Moroccan cuisine; while artist and singer Amal Ghayet Ben Saharaoui appears from the world of music.

The book then takes readers to cinema and heritage with director Yza Jenini; to science and entrepreneurship with Elham Kadri; to medicine and civic work with Hakima Hmich; and to fashion with Fadila El Kadi.

In sports, we find Majda Barabij in mind sports and Bouchra Karboubi in international football refereeing, while Meriem Belkhayal represents the world of adventure.

Science returns strongly with physicist and researcher Khaoula Hafioui, while entrepreneurship appears with Rahma El Moudden, architecture with Aziza Chaouni, community and cooperative work with Kenza Oulghadi, and robotics technology through sisters Leila and Iman Berchan.

In the first volume, the project used illustrations and portraits created by Moroccan women artists, giving the book a visual dimension that complements its subject matter. This visual aid helps connect the name to the field and story.

The project also chose to present the book in both Arabic and French—a choice consistent with Moroccan society's nature and its diverse audience.