{"id":210,"date":"2014-06-24T10:21:38","date_gmt":"2014-06-24T08:21:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/re-usable.org\/blog\/?page_id=210"},"modified":"2026-02-02T17:52:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T16:52:13","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sahara-roots.org\/?page_id=210","title":{"rendered":"About us"},"content":{"rendered":"


\nSahara Roots<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Sahara-Roots Foundation was founded in 2008 to help create awareness amongst the population in the area of the M\u2019hamid village in the South of Morocco, about the importance of maintaining their beautiful environment. The activities are focussed on planting trees against desertification, assisting in clean-up campaigns and in stimulating the local school children by distributing and reading Wanda Hebly\u2019s own-designed booklet \u201cMe and my Sahara\u201d in the French\/Arabic language, in co-operation with local associations and authorities.
\nBetween 2008 and 2025 the Sahara-Roots team has participated in many tree planting and environmental educational activities together with various primary\/high schools in M\u2019hamid, Zagora and Ouarzazate. We have also participated in various International EarthDay activities as well as several Zamane & Taragalte Festivals.
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Children of the Joudour Sahara Music School planting trees<\/p><\/div>\n

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Why the name Sahara-Roots?<\/strong>
\n— \u201cSahara\u201d because M\u2019hamid lies in the Moroccan Sahara
\n— \u201cRoots\u201d are the origins from which we as people came
\n— \u201cRoots\u201d are the roots of trees and plants
\n— \u201cRoots\u201d are necessary to keep the sand in it\u2019s place
\n— \u201cRoots\u201d are needed to keep traditions and culture in tact
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\nThe Foundation
\n<\/strong>Sahara Roots is a family foundation. The president\/founder is Wanda Hebly, the vice-president is Richard Hebly, the secretary is Wendelien Hebly, the treasurer is Adriaan Hebly en Laurens Hebly is responsible for communication, marketing and design.<\/p>\n

About Wanda Hebly, founder of Sahara Roots<\/em>
\nSince 1998 Wanda has worked as a tour guide during hiking and culture trips in the deserts of Jordan as well as Morocco. Her interest in desert areas was awakened during a five-year stay in the Middle East. Wanda loves to share her passion for the desert areas of Morocco and Jordan, as well as their inhabitants and their different cultures during these trips.\u00a0Wanda works part-time for Valerius Reizen<\/a> in Amsterdam.
\nSince 2007 Wanda has been working closely together with- and accompanied to Morocco by her friend and Arabic teacher Ilham Attar-Bakal of Noor Translations (+31-(0)35-6213681). Ilham has been (and still is) instrumental in bridging the communication between the local people and us and she is energizing our initiative tremendously! Ilham works as a translator for the Media and various Governmental organizations in The Netherlands. Her languages are Dutch, English, Arabic,\u00a0Koerdi(Sorani) and\u00a0Turkmeens.\u00a0.<\/p>\n

Goals of the Sahara Roots Foundation<\/em><\/p>\n