EVE BRANSON

FOUNDATION
NEWSLETTER
News and Developments from
the High Atlas Mountains

issue 13 OCTOBER 2010

compiled by eve branson

K A S B A H TA M A D O T • ASNI • ASSELDA • TIMZRA • TA N S G H A R T • IMSKER

 VANESSA BRANSON
ENJOYING THE RIDE
A bike ride to Imsker
Oh to be back again in the Atlas Mountains: the sparrows
chirping, the goats and cockerels making their voices heard
- all competing with each other whilst the donkey with his
raucous call lets it be known he’s boss around here!
For this visit to Morocco I’ve brought out Tim Souris, Sakiko
Posta and Holly Peppe, the main US financial board members,
who, for the past 3 years, have run a fantastic fundraising ball
called ‘Rock the Kasbah’ in Los Angeles. Each year this ball
raises sufficient funds to enable us to continue our work in
the local villages for a further 12 months.
I awake, unlock the door and let in Amena, the teacher at
the craft house in Tansghart across the valley from Kasbah
Tamadot, who makes me a special cup of mint tea.
Behind my craft house are the chirping children competing
with the chirping sparrows, the cockerels, cows and donkeys
braying in the valley below.
The sun is now rising, the silence only penetrated by a local
Berber lady shuffling past, shooing her five precious sheep
down the rough path, clutching a bunch of grass to feed her
cow now tethered securely in her back kitchen.
Today was to be a busy day as, on my last visit, I’d discovered
a village called Imsker in the High Atlas Mountains, a village
unknown by outsiders with no water, no electricity and no
paper lying around (there is no paper).
It was my next challenge, but money was needed!
SOME OF THE FINISHED
PRODUCTS FROM
THE CRAFT HOUSE IN
TANSGHART
The intrepid
SIR Richard Brahim and
Branson Eve discuss
the plans for
the new craft
house
Staying at Kasbah Tamadot was a group of some of the
richest people in the world: astronauts who, bravely, have all
signed up to go into space on the Virgin Galactic spaceship.
Little did they know what they had let themselves in for as
hotel General Manager Kenton Jones suggested an organised
three hour bike ride which would take them through the most
beautiful remote mountain scenery.
Thirty hotel guests enthusiastically signed up with some
pledging funds to the Eve Branson Foundation including my
son Richard, daughter Vanessa and granddaughter Florence.
They then set forth, whilst the not so agile were driven a
precarious route through winding unpaved roads passing over
the gushing river and up to Imsker where Kasbah Tamadot’s
team had organised Berber tents and carpets all laid out on
the plot we had bought previously, and where we hope one
day to build another craft house.
One by one the worn out adventurers appeared, gasping, but
elated; they had achieved the challenge!
By now all the children in the village decided to join in the
fun, beating an old drum and laughing and singing as yet
another bicycle appeared around the corner.
Ludo Brockway, one of my grandsons, had been appointed
official photographer, and as he was sat on top of the support
vehicle he was in a position to witness one of the cyclists
crashing into a wall – hospitalisation was the only answer
(but no long-term damage fortunately).
Finally, the last intrepid cyclist came panting and puffing
home – tired but elated as they sat in the Berber tent out of
the midday sun.
The day ended at Tansghart craft house, not only for Vanessa’s
birthday cake but also for them all to witness the aim of the
Eve Branson Foundation. The philosophy of the foundation
is to teach the local girls lifelong skills, removing the need
to beg or ask for charity, for the Berbers are a proud, happy
people. Following on from the success of the craft house
in Tansghart, you will realise how the people in Imsker are
desperate for one of their own. We plan to send out teachers
and some of the girls from Tansghart to pass on what they’ve
already been taught.
 The philosophy of the foundation is to
teach the local girls lifelong skills,
removing the need to beg or ask for
charity, for the Berbers are a proud,
happy people.

Greedy Goats

The story of the Cashmere

Goats
Could it only have been last week that Richard looked across
the table and said, “Mum, why on earth did you ever bring
Cashmere goats to Morocco? They won’t make any money for
you?” (The full story on bringing these magnificent goats to
Morocco can be found in some of my previous newsletters).
“No” I thought dejectedly, he just might be right. The original
30 goats have become 40, and we had another born last week,
bringing the total to 41 pure white Cashmere goats.
By now I was starting to doubt my own judgement, when one
of the future Virgin Galactic astronauts came up to me saying
it was his wife Bella’s birthday, and he was at a loss as to what
she could possibly want. He had heard that one of my goats GOAT HERDER AZIZ
SHEARS THE GOATS baby bella
had had a baby last night and suggested it could be named
after her? “Of course”, I said, “come over to the pen and we’ll
make that possible.” the girls are desperate to have the opportunity to learn crafts
Over we went and, putting the little white fluffy darling in her so they too can create and sell gifts.
arms, I ceremoniously said, “We now name this goat Bella.” At The joy of the day was somewhat spoilt when in the dark
that moment Aziz let it be known that the newborn goat was night I fell over a suitcase. Result: two broken ribs and a
in fact a boy! So, hastily, I changed the name to ‘Bello’. But no, punctured arm… The surgeon from Marrakech was called and,
it had to be called ‘Bella’, so we settled on ‘Boy Bella’. after three stitches and an x-ray, I was beyond worrying.
As she handed the little kid goat back to me, Mummy Bella A few days complete rest at the luxurious Kasbah Tamadot
mentioned that she had heard we needed money to buy some and I now pray I’ll be able to travel home and continue my
land next door to the craft house in Tansghart and that should crazy life in England with no more mishaps!
like to donate US$10,000. Phew! I nearly dropped ‘Boy Bella’ in
my joy and surprise.
The next job was to find Richard; I couldn’t wait to tell him.
“Richard”, I said, “Who said my goats can’t make any money?!” EVE BRANSON
THANKS TO
He graciously conceded! BELLA HULL
FOR HER
The result of that donation for the extra land means we will GENEROUS

Thank You!
have a place to park the car, set up a pottery class and buy GIFT!
several spinning wheels where the girls can not only work on
their crafts, but also teach others who wish to learn how to spin. Bella Hull Boy -Be ll
a!
nSo rin g
for Spo ing
Tha nk you ion which will
go towards finish
ous donat Atlas Mountains.
ul for your gener

Should anyone else wish to name a goat (as each new one is We are so gratef d in the High
r, a village locate learn a craft so
our next craft
house in Imske opportunity to
rate to have the near Kasbah Tamad
ot,
Imsker are despe Unite gift shop
The people of sell in the Virgin all.
gifts to future for
they can create ng a sustainable

born), any donation would be so very welcome as we still need helpin

Thank
g their
you
adventures!
families and buildi
once again and we
promise to keep
you updat ed on Boy Bella’s

more funds to complete the next craft house in Imsker. In this EVE BrAn
son

village which, at the moment has nothing and asks for nothing,
 ISSUE 1 2005 ISSUE 2 AUGUST 2006 ISSUE 3 DECEMBER 2006 ISSUE 4 FEBRUARY 2007

ISSUE 5 SEPTEMBER 2007 ISSUE 6 FEBRUARY 2008 ISSUE 7 AUGUST 2008 ISSUE 8 APRIL 2009

ISSUE 9 MAY 2009 ISSUE 10 OCTOBER 2009 ISSUE 11 DECEMBER 2009 ISSUE 12 JUNE 2010

We only print a limited number of newsletters for guests at Kasbah Tamadot,

however all the issues are available in electronic format. If you would like
us to send you a copy please email robert.speirs@virginlimitededition.com.

The Eve Branson Foundation operates with support from:

Virgin Unite
The School House, 50 Brook Green, Hammersmith, London W6 7BJ
t. +44 (0) 203 126 3962 • f. +44 (0) 203 126 3980 • e. sue.hale@virginunite.co.uk • www.virginunite.com

The Virgin Foundation (operating as “Virgin Unite”). Registered office: Hanover House, 14 Hanover Square, London, W1S 1HP. Company No. 02155645. UK Registered Charity Number 297540.