“The Threshold of the Desert”, a documentary on the life of a Moroccan woman

“The Threshold of the Desert” is a documentary focused on the life of Najat Aziz, the 36-year-old, who managed to go to university and attend IT, business management, and training courses. She come from the Errachidia, a Moroccan province where only 15% of women work outside of their homes.

The movie has been selected for the 2013 Cannes Film Festival and it was funded by the Spanish agency for international cooperation, the UN and ACAM APIP. It has been screened in EU Parliament on early October 2013.

“My father is illiterate but knew educated people and wanted his daughters to get their diplomas and a job” Najat said. She had to struggle against her mother, who wanted to keep her at home.

Najat got her degree in Islamic studies in a university 45 kilometres from her home. She did many different jobs to pay for her activities until NGOs began to provide free books and smocks to her children.

To see the trailer (with Spanish subtitles) on YouTube click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?