Casablanca: ESPOD opens showroom for women entrepreneurs’ products in old medina
ESPOD has opened a showroom in Casablanca’s old medina selling products by women entrepreneurs and cooperatives, its president Khadija Idrissi Janati said.
The association ESPOD (Espace Point de Départ) has opened an exhibition and sales space at its centre in Casablanca’s old medina, offering goods made by women entrepreneurs and cooperatives.
Shelves carry traditional pastries, spices, natural cosmetics, rugs, throws and woven household linen, couscous from the Moroccan Sahara and handmade traditional clothing. Both individual shoppers and companies can buy there, and businesses can source solidarity gifts for their clients and staff.
The idea is to give these women new outlets for their work. Reaching customers and finding distribution channels remains one of the main obstacles holding back their businesses.
Khadija Idrissi Janati, ESPOD’s national president, said the goal is to move beneficiaries from “survival entrepreneurship” to “prosperity entrepreneurship”.
“It is time to go beyond an approach that is limited to enabling women to meet their needs, and give them the means to build lasting, competitive and value-creating businesses,” she said.
The space also relies on reciprocity. Entrepreneurs who display their products there commit to volunteering two hours a week to train other women supported by the association.
It was set up with backing from Fondation Crédit du Maroc, and architect Salma Dioury fitted it out free of charge.
Founded more than 35 years ago, ESPOD helps over 500 women a year toward economic independence through vocational training, entrepreneurship support, preschool education and awareness on rights and health.
