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«Sight has its limits and recognizes its own weakness and shortcomings, but insight knows no bounds». This is the lesson one can learn from the story of Tarek El kahodi, a Frenchman of Moroccan origin, who was born facing the darkness of visual impairment, perceiving only 1/10 of his vision in one eye. However, in his heart burns a flame of determination that illuminates his path towards giving and goodness.
Tarek was born in Nanterre, France, with a visual impairment. During an interview with Yabladi, he spoke with a tone full of contentment with God's decree, saying, «Since childhood, I suffered from a severe lack of vision. At that time, doctors informed my parents that it would be difficult for me to live a normal academic life and that it would be challenging to choose certain fields of study, including computer science. They also predicted the possibility of me losing my eyesight completely».
This challenge motivated Tarek to choose the field of computer engineering. He said, «It's true that this field is lucrative, but I also chose it to prove to everyone that I am capable of achieving my goals».
In 1998, he obtained his baccalaureate degree, followed by a Higher Technician Certificate (BTS) in software development in 2002. Tarek began his professional career as a software developer at a company, and within three years, he became an IT engineer «thanks to self-learning and practical experience». Through his determination, the young Moroccan quickly rose through the ranks, working with prominent companies like Orange, as well as the French Ministries of Defense and Interior. He explained, «I used to work on a regular computer, but I would modify it to suit my needs, such as enlarging the font size and adjusting the lighting».
Despite his successes, Tarek stopped feeling the taste of achievement. Driven by his desire to contribute and serve humanitarian causes, he felt the need to utilize his skills for the benefit of society. In early 2009, Tarek met Steve, the founder of the LIFE association, and decided to volunteer with the charitable organization, which was then just a local initiative, while continuing his job.
At that time, the association dedicated its efforts to serving underprivileged communities by distributing food, blankets, and other essential items. Later, its activities expanded to include more than 25 countries, extending to drilling wells in several African nations to provide clean drinking water to those in need.
Tarek, whose roots trace back to the city of Berkane, proudly recounts, «After 15 years, that humble association led by volunteers has evolved into a global non-governmental organization». It now has a team of 40 employees worldwide, including in France, Morocco, Senegal, Mali and other countries. The association is supported by more than 180,000 donors, which has driven it to expand its scope to include diverse projects such as providing clean drinking water, improving sanitation and hygiene, education, food security, and environmental protection. To date, the number of projects implemented in these areas has surpassed 4,000.
«So far, we have drilled 348 wells equipped with hand pumps, constructed 50 small water tanks, and completed 7 wells with solar-powered water tanks. Regarding education, we have distributed 200 bicycles, contributed to the schooling of 7,880 individuals, both adults and children, and provided 1,730 school bags».
In 2016, Tarek, now 47 years old, decided to leave his job as an engineer to embark on an entrepreneurial journey. He founded a restaurant with his siblings, seeking greater flexibility and dedicating more time and energy to the LIFE organization. In 2021, he fully committed himself to the charitable organization, becoming a full-time employee, and assuming the role of president in September 2022.
The launch of the charitable organization's work in Morocco
In 2017, striving to provide assistance to his home country as well, Tarek collaborated with the «Zagora Association» to build a school in the mountains near Taroudant, marking their first project in Morocco. In 2019, he decided to settle in the city of Tangier, where they began working with the Darna Association, specializing in distributing food to students in some public schools.
Alongside various forms of aid provided by the organization in different regions of Morocco, the most impactful assistance and projects were those following the earthquake in September 2023.
«We headed to the affected area within hours of the disaster and launched a fundraising campaign. We managed to collect one million euros, which we used to distribute food, blankets, and essential supplies. Afterward, in coordination with local authorities, we started building wooden schools to ensure students' swift return to education. We chose wood to preserve the nature of the area. We succeeded in constructing 12 schools within a month of the earthquake».
Subsequently, another project idea emerged: building homes in front of each school for the teachers who oversee the students' education and come from different regions. Tarek said, «We began by constructing prefabricated homes made of sandwich panels and continued building more schools. Then, we moved on to building houses, managing to construct 1,800 prefabricated homes made of sandwich panels, which we equipped with water and electricity. This was done in collaboration with the 'Ouled El Kheir Association' from Marrakech, which also provided assistance in this process».
The organization didn't stop there; despite completing the construction process, they returned to the region during the last month of Ramadan and began distributing food to the earthquake-affected residents, some of whom were still living in tents.
«I have no regrets about leaving the engineering field. My life has changed 360 degrees since entering the world of charitable work. I feel empowered; it's true that we are the ones helping people, but in reality, their smiles and prayers give us indescribable strength. They teach us a great lesson; despite their social circumstances, smiles never leave their faces, unlike us who have everything we ever dreamed of».
Tarek's successes and charitable work have become a source of pride for his family. He emotionally recounts a memory with his mother, saying, «My mother still remembers the words of an elderly man when I was two years old. We were on vacation in Imintanout, where she is originally from. I was wearing large glasses, and she looked at me with sadness. Her sorrowful gaze caught the attention of an elderly man, who told her verbatim, 'Do not be sad or worry about him. He will become an important person and will succeed.' To this day, whenever I achieve success, my mother remembers the words of that elderly man and cries».
Tarek concluded his conversation with us, saying, «When God takes something from us, He compensates us with something better». This statement is not mere words but a life philosophy he believes in and lives by. He may not see with his eyes, but he sees with the eye of the heart, where the values of humanity and giving shine brightly.
