Ouassima Tarik, 18, Azilal

A GLOWING WOMAN

In this world, there are a lot of heroes who save people's lives. Mine is not a normal one, but a superhero in one of the truest sense of the word. My greatest source of motivation and inspiration came into this life in 1997. Her name is Nassro ABASS. She is a Muslim African-American woman who came to Morocco as a Peace Corps Volunteer to work with the youth of the country. She is interested in youth development, especially girls empowerment. She set foot in our village, AIT ATTAB, in 2017. We met for the first time in Dar Chabab, a youth club. We didn't talk much then but I was drawn to her thanks to her loveable and spontaneous personality. A personality that changed the way I see life. One that made me consider her as the most influential person in my life? What I will tell you next will show how much she has impacted my life.

Nasro’s charming and energetic nature is an example worthy of modeling. She is a true symbol of determination and perseverance. A woman in a foreign country away from her family and friends. A stranger facing a new society, its different traditions and language. Such conditions usually cause normal people to break down, but not my steel-nerved hero. Never did she collapse. She stayed strong for us, for me. She told me once that her most difficult times here were in RAMADAN. We can all imagine how spending this sacred month without our family can be hollow and lifeless. She broke her fasts alone in the table. However, this strong young lady never lost hope. She stayed optimistic and handled many similar struggles that faced her with optimism and peace of mind. She taught me a lot with her unique positive attitude, her smile in the face of hardship, her clinging to hope. I learned to keep on moving however impossible circumstances might

seem.

Nasro has devoted two years of her life helping our rural area's girls. She believes that is incredibly important to encourage young women to be in control of their own lives. She thinks it is necessary to equip them with tools to better their families’ future as well as 56

their own. That is why she created a club and named it ‘GLOW’, which stands for "GIRLS LEADING OUR WORLD ". It is a safe and supportive space where girls and young women are encouraged to engage and lead conversation about sensitive topics and challenges that they face in their home community and personal life. She proposed that I help her manage it by suggesting new ideas or activities, translating what she says to the girls and explaining difficult concepts to them like feminism or leadership or girl empowerment. Doing all of this aided me improve my English level and develop many communication skills. Through this wonderful project, she encourages young girl express themselves freely and comfortably. She teaches us to be self-confident, have a clear vision and to work hard to achieve it. The most important thing I learned from GLOW is how to be a glowing citizen of not only my community, but of the world. It inspired me to be more humane and get rid of my selfishness that makes me focus just on myself and forget the people around me who are in need of my support and help.

Unfortunately,

it s Nassro’s last year in Morocco. She will finish her mission in next December and go back to her homeland, USA. That actually breaks my heart and makes me sad, but I took it upon myself to be her succession, the mirror that reflect her light to enlighten the world of lost people, and guide them find their way to go ahead in their journey.

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