Meriem Benchalha, 18, Essaouira

She was born during the 60’s, she was very artistic, she was beautiful inside out.

I loved everything about her, and how could I not, she was my mother, yes, was, she passed away a couple of years ago.

But I’m not here to talk about how she died, I’m here to give you a glimpse of her life, and how she made me the young active slightly annoying girl that I am today.

My mom had a passion for embroidery since she was a little girl, it’s a very well known art in Morocco, and it’s used to decorate everything from pillows and sheets to clothes and bags and also shoes.

My mother used her skills and talent to work with a tailor who owned a little shop in midtown Essaouira, or as they call it: the city of wind.

The tailor was known for making traditional Moroccan wear including jallabas as well as caftans, and after years of my mom and the tailor working together, sharing a passion, a career, and a lot of time, they got married and had three daughters, including myself, so as you might have guessed by now the tailor is my dad.

My mother was well respected among her friends and customers, due to her amazing, and flawless work, and the time and effort she puts in every peace she makes, she was a perfectionist, but in a good way, as she would give every project she’s working on the time, power, and creativity it deserves, and that’s something people appreciated about her.

My mom worked on raising me, and my sisters to become strong and independent females.

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Even thought we weren’t rich or privileged, my mom did her best to give us an amazing childhood, documenting each memory and moment throughout photos, we traveled as much as we could and had as much fun as we could within our financial ability.

My mom also reminded us constantly of the importance of family bond, and helped us realize that family is above all, and that we should always stand up for each other, the way we stand up for ourselves.

She also was very encouraging and supportive of our artistic side, whether its writing, painting or singing, she was always happy with any achievement.

She never hesitated to help me and my sisters, understand, everything about being a female emotionally as well as physically, also to never feel ashamed of who we are, and that equality is within our rights as humans.

My mom didn’t finish her education, but that didn’t hold her back, or stop her from making sure we were on the top of our game when it came to our education, she wanted more for us, she wanted us to follow our dreams and become active members of

the society, so she made sure we were engaged in school, and extracurricular activities.

Even thought my mother grew up in a time where females didn’t get a say in anything, couldn’t stand up for themselves, where males had the upper hand, and girls we’re merely creatures in the same world, machines to reproduce, cook and clean, my mother knew better than to raise us with the same believes, so instead she raised us the right

way.

She believed the way to stop injustice towards woman was through us, the new generation, to speak for ourselves and all the women before us, and to say: time’s up for woman to be free at last.

And for this I say: thank you mom, you will always be remembered for the true fighter that you were.

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