My name is Maryam Ben Ali, and I come from M’lall, in the province of Zagora, Morocco. As part of the FoodBack project, I had the opportunity to participate in a job shadowing experience with the Agdz Volunteers Without Borders organization. This experience helped me take an important step forward in shaping my business idea: creating a value-added henna production initiative.
Before the job shadowing, I participated in the local workshop and the youth seminar—two fundamental stages of the FoodBack journey that allowed me to share my ideas, learn from others, and reflect on solutions to daily challenges we face as young people in our communities. These earlier phases expanded my perspective and sparked in me the desire to gain more practical, hands-on experience.
That’s why I chose to do my job shadowing with Agdz Volunteers Without Borders, an organization that supports youth, women, and children through local development and entrepreneurship initiatives. During this period, I was welcomed into their team and entrusted with various responsibilities. I participated in internal meetings, helped organize workshops, assisted in preparing reports, and supported international groups presenting their projects. I also took part in field activities and informal learning sessions, where we openly discussed challenges and creative ways to address them.
In the beginning, I found it difficult to keep up with the fast pace and team dynamics. But over time, I learned to adapt and manage my time more effectively. One of the most memorable moments for me was presenting my ideas for a youth project to the team. Although I was nervous, their interest and encouragement gave me the confidence to share openly—and it reminded me of how powerful it is to believe in your own voice.
This experience gave me not only new technical and organizational skills, but also a clearer, more grounded vision for my henna-based business. I now understand the importance of teamwork, communication, and flexible problem-solving. I left the job shadowing period feeling more motivated, more confident, and more determined to take real steps toward launching a project that contributes to my community.
My next goal is to define a detailed project plan and begin testing small-scale ideas to evaluate feasibility. I will keep drawing on what I learned—especially the communication and teamwork skills—and stay connected with the team and network I built during this period. I also plan to seek out more training and support through FoodBack and other initiatives.
To future participants, my advice is simple: stay open, stay curious, and treat every challenge as a learning opportunity. Every stage of this journey—whether in the field, the classroom, or the office—offers something valuable to take with you.
Finally, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to my husband for his unwavering support and to Mr. Abdelbaset Bahaddou, president of Agdz Volunteers Without Borders, for his dedication and mentorship throughout this process.
