Marrakech, Morocco: and a tale of being a social entrepreneur

I was running a prisoner rights program when I started this blog.  You didn't know that because, well, I didn't talk about my work.  I would go on assignments in Mali, Egypt, South Africa, Cambodia, Afghanistan, and I'd take you with me. But I never really shared what I was doing.  

My life was a little bipolar back then.  There was the do-good part of me that helped people, organizations, and movements in far flung places. I did this for a living because I believed in it.  My father also had been in international humanitarian aid and I followed in his footsteps.  

Then there was the other part of me that loved design, culture and hospitality.  There was my hotel Peacock Pavilions, there was my souk shop, there was my design book Marrakesh by Design. That was the more visual part of what I did and the side of me that I shared on this blog.

But it didn't feel quite right. I was like a Venn diagram where I couldn't align all the circles to find the sweet spot.  I wanted to discover a way to bring it all together and walk the talk by day and by night.  And so nearly two years ago, I started Project Soar.

Project Soar is a social experiment in doing good that invests its energy in underprivileged girls.  Girls whose futures aren't all that bright -- futures that likely involve becoming girl brides and then starting the cycle all over again.  

As an American 501 (3) (C) non-profit, tax exempt organization, we work with nearly 60 underprivileged girls and their moms.  We provide creative and sports activities weekly as well as health education.  We also do work in the community where they live to make it a nicer place to be.  

It's not glamorous but it's good. (Maybe good is the new glamorous?)   

For a long time I didn't talk about Project Soar outside of a small circle of colleagues and volunteers.  Why?  Because it took time and perseverance to get it right.  Frankly, I also didn't discuss it on this blog because I didn't think that's what you wanted to hear.  

But the fact is that I am a social entrepreneur, and I am proud of it.  I believe the future of solving the world's problems lies in all of our hands, and that includes In the hands of small business owners and entrepreneurs like me and maybe you. It's not necessarily the grand gesture -- it's the small gesture, too.  It's not about giving up all your possessions, and going to work for Mother Theresa or Doctors without Borders (although that's fantastic, too). Nor is it about foregoing the pretty handbag or the swanky shoes.  

It's about all of us.  Each of us saying, Hey, I can help.  And then doing that, consistently, with commitment.

Peacock Pavilions donates 10% of its profits to Project Soar. We are Marrakesh's Do-Good Guesthouse.   Every sale at my Souk also benefits Project Soar. (See here, how).  

I feel like my personal Venn diagram makes so much more sense now.

Project Soar has partners and collaborators, like our Kuwaiti friends Huda and Mayada who are benefactors, Swatchroom that holds fundraisers, the American School of Marrakech that supports us with student volunteers, Eat, Pray, Move Yoga that does Give Back Retreats, Imperial Black which contributes a % of profits of their Montague shirts, the Guitar Center which donates instruments, The Day Law Practice that provides pro bono legal advice, One World Futbol which gave us hundreds of soccer balls to distribute to 50 villages, Be Girl which is collaborating on a project for our girls and women, and Manduka that donates yoga mats.  These are all social businesses that care.

We also have big-hearted, talented people who volunteer their time as instructors, like Delphine Warin, Stephanie von Watzdorf, Amy Butler, April Meeker, Jennifer Harr, Souhail Tazi, Laurence Landon, Faysal Chadimi, Lauren Ruddick, Alicia Danzig, Genevieve Dawson, Marta Carrascosa, Sarah Quinn, Andrea Clark, Bassam, Lise Buntschuh, Melanie Royals, Cait Lees and Mat Sanchez, Chae Hirano, Diane Rakocy, Caroline Douglas, Hermione O'Hea, Annette Whitford, Sasa Tang, the Cafe Clock Storytellers, The Urban Foxes, and many others. Additionally, there are people who have worked tirelessly for Project Soar like Michelle Hirschfield, Skylar Montague Redecke, Chris Redecke, Khawla Asfani, Steven Roberts, Kaydee Dahlin, Jen Murphy, Anna Wang, Suzanne Coppola and the list goes on.

They are all a part of the Project Soar Nation -- a country without borders, where people strive to be good neighbors through tangible acts.  

I'd love for you to be part of the Project Soar Nation, too.  Do you want to be?

Are you in London?  This Saturday, December 6, I am going to London for a fundraiser, hosted by generous Sarita Jha and Kathryn Kerle. There will be wine, nibbles and live violin playing by two child prodigies (really!).  I will also be doing a small trunk show of tribal chic items perfect for the modern nomad (and the holidays!). The donation is only 30 GBP.  You can get more information and rsvp by emailing Sarita.Jha2012@outlook.com.

Please come!  I'd love to meet you!

PS If you'd like to collaborate, give or learn more about Project Soar, please drop us a line at projectsoarmarrakesh@gmail.com

Marrakesh: and a tale of M.Montague {or an almost new me}

It’s my birthday this week and perhaps it was then so many days ago when it all started.  The day I was born in Egypt, in Cairo, in a hospital near the Nile.  I was born to parents who weren’t Egyptian but who were travelers and adventurers and do-gooders.  And Egypt seemed as good a place as any other to settle down. 

We moved from Egypt to Tunisia, spending our summers in Iran.  We eventually would wind up in New York with a container filled with my parents’ strange loot from all the places that they had been. 

Our home didn’t look like the homes of any of the neighbors.  And my parents didn’t look like the parents of any of the other children.  My father worked in Africa and persisted in wearing a khaki safari suit regardless of where he was.  Meanwhile, my mother breezed about in caftans – her dark hair and brows a marked contrast to the blond soccer moms. 

In my house, there were ethnic foods and ethnic friends and endless talks of programs to reduce poverty in far flung places. 

That’s the way I grew up.  And perhaps, really, nothing has much changed. 

As an adult, I hit the road and moved and then moved again.  From Washington to Senegal , from Bangladesh to Nepal , and from Namibia to Morocco.  And it was here in Marrakesh that I settled down, as much a nomad can, and built Peacock Pavilions in an olive grove – my very own bohemian enclave filled with my own curious loot.  I started this blog to chronicle my small tales, and I opened my shop to showcase my tribal treasures.  And because that wasn’t enough, I founded Project Soar – a social experiment in doing good.  I was my parent’s daughter after all and I had married a man as crazy as I was. 

It’s all grown organically, without rationale or a plan- everything scattered here and there on the web.  But now….now a little order.  My new site, M. Montague, that houses everything in one spot – my blog, my hotel, my shop, my nonprofit.  A place for all the things that I am up to -- my fascinations, my travels, my obsessions, my products.  A place for modern nomads everywhere. 

Come visit.

Marrakesh, Morocco: and a tale of Project Soar & doing a little good

Dear friends,

We've been busier than ever at my little non-profit organization Project Soar.  We now serve over 50 underprivileged girls, as well as a community of 350 families!  

A while back we cast our net even farther to partner with the Chevrolet-sponsored effort, One World Futbol.  We distributed 200 of their amazing indestructible soccer balls to young people in 52 local government communes.  To add to the fun, One World Futbol, shot a little video of some of the Project Soar girls getting in on the soccer action.  I was traveling on assignment but my Project Soar colleague Michelle Hirschfield and our Project Soar coach Sana Touhtene share our mission and some of the day's excitement in this video.  Please take a moment to watch! Yay for girl power!

On another front, Project Soar is collaborating with the big-hearted and oh-so-stylish menswear company, Imperial Black on a collection of products.  So excited to report that the Montague 10 in white linen (swoon) is out!

 This linen -- Italian, of course -- is so fine, it literally feels like a christening gown.  And in white it's absolutely indispensable in any man's wardrobe.  A perfect staple for sultry summer nights.   Get the Montague 10 for your guy (or for yourself) and feel great about doing good while getting something super chic!

    xo from an olive grove in Marrakesh,

    Maryam

PS Want to help Project Soar?  You can!  Check this out here.  Or email me and let's talk!

Marrakesh Morocco: and a tale of Project Soar and doing good

Dear friends,

It's officially Summer and there has been so much going on here with Project Soar, our non-profit organization that seeks to uplift underprivileged communities through art, design and movement.   A little news roundup!

*  We have been hosting some super fun activities for the Project Soar girls every Sunday at Peacock Pavilions!  Recent activities have included collage, skateboarding, singing and stenciling workshops.   Many thanks to all of our fantastic instructors.  We love you!   Here's an activity with Melanie of Royal Design Studio. 

* The adorable fellas of Imperial Black have come up with a Peacock Pavilion tie, with 10% of proceeds benefit Project Soar.  High five!  Check it out here.  

* There are still Peacock Pavilions pocket squares, available, too!  LOVE THESE.  Only $36 and you can feel great about your purchase that helps do something nice for underserved girls and families.

* Eat.Pray.Move is hosting new Give Back retreats at Peacock Pavilions!  You'll enjoy inspiring yoga, fantastic shopping, delicious cuisine, and meeting the Project Soar girls.  10% of profits will go to Project Soar.  Learn more here.  Here's Erin doing yoga with the girls!

* Husband Chris just drove all the way to Rabat to buy a big trampoline for the girls of Project Soar.  None of the girls have ever been on a trampoline before -- you should see their faces as they bounce in the air.  Priceless!  

* There are only 10 Montague shirts left at Imperial Black, with10% of proceeds benefitting Project Soar.  Get your shirt for your guy right here.  It's gorgeous and you'll be doing good at the same time!  Here's Chris wearing his Montague shirt. {so handsome, if I do say so myself}*A big thanks to Brandon Smith for including the Montague shirt in his new magazine here. So nice! 

* We have doubled the size of our basketball court/play area for the Project Soar girls.  Recent clients bought tether balls and jump ropes for the girls.  Yay for play!

* We took the Project Soar girls on their first field trip!  We went to the Gallery Tindouf to see the exhibit of Tahar Ben Jelloun.  This was the first time ever for all of the girls visiting a gallery or museum (and the first time for many in a bus)!  Many thanks to the talented Hadia Temli of the Gallery Tindouf who arranged exclusive Sunday access, gave a talk, and provided each girl an exhibit book.  We are grateful also to Time Tours for sponsoring transportation.

* Project Soar collaborated with One World Futboland distributed 200 indestructible soccer balls to 52 villages in our local government commune.  It made a lot of kids very happy. Go team!  Here are the Project Soar girls getting in on the action.

* Did you know that Peacock Pavilions is the Do-Good hotel in Marrakesh?  10% of our profits go to financing Project Soar (last year it was more than 20%!).  If you are planning on coming to Marrakesh, think about staying at Peacock Pavilions -- the stylish design B&B that cares.  Come see for yourself what we are talking about. 

            Your friend in an olive grove in Marrakesh,

            Maryam,

            {Project Soar President}

PS Would you like to help Project Soar?  You can!  Are you a designer who would like to create a product with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Project Soar?  Or might you be coming to Marrakesh and like to donate a brand new pair of sneakers (for girls ages 4-14) or new art supplies? Alternatively, could you  contribute to a wash station for the girls so that they an take the health education we give them and help put it into action? Or perhaps you could host a little fundraiser at your house by making a lasagna, watching the Project Soar film and asking each person to donate $25?  Yes, yes, yes, and yes:-) 

It's in our power -- yours and mine -- to care and make a difference.  We can do it together!  Join the Project Soar Nation and be a better world neighbor.  Email me at projectsoarmarrakesh@gmail.com and let's talk.  Or make a donation here. You know you'll feel better if you do and not just click away from this page. {Thank you!}