See the Friendship Caravan Mission Statement.

The Friendship Caravan's programs are non-political; they endeavor to reach out to and include all constituencies. In 2006 and 2007, they are focused, in particular, on two arenas: 1) the commonalities between Americans and people of the Kingdom of Morocco; and 2) the desperate needs of the people of the Azawak, a vast region stretching from The Republic of Niger into the Republic of Mali. Below is an introduction to this program, which proposes to bring water and hope to hundreds of thousands of Tuaregs, Woodabe Fulani, Arabs, and others living on the very brink of survival.

The Amman Imman Program Brings Water to Those Who Have None

The Friendship Caravan is especially proud to launch Amman Imman (“Water Is Life” in Tamachek, the language of the Tuareg people of Niger and Mali) as a humanitarian branch of its expanding activities. Created and directed by Caravan board member Ariane Kirtley, Amman Imman is a program to build permanent and sustainable water sources for the most severely threatened populations in the southern Sahara, starting in the Azawak region of the Republic of Niger, one of the most abandoned places on Earth.

The ongoing tragedy of the 500,000 inhabitants of the Azawak (mainly Tuareg and Woodabe Fulani nomads) is that for nine months out of the year there is literally no water, other than at distances of 30 miles or more. Because of this, their lives are limited to coping with survival, and one out of two children dies before the age of five. Compounding the problem is the total lack of infrastructure and the refusal of other aid organizations to work in such enduringly harsh conditions.

Everyone concurs that the first step towards a solution to the escalating catastrophe of the Azawak is water. Luckily water does exist there, in underground aquifers at depths of 400 to 1200 feet. The objective for winter 2006-07 is build two deep borehole wells that will serve the needs of 50,000 children and adults. At the same time we will explore the expansion of the project further into the Azawak and into similarly abandoned regions in the Republic of Mali.

The first year’s budget is $280,000. Mainly through the generosity of amazing individuals over the past three months, Amman Imman has already raised $130,000, with an additional pledge of $100,000. Therefore, we still need to raise at least $60,000 before December and humbly ask for your support.

Your donations are needed now to stop people from dying! Please click here to make a donation.

Click here to go to the Amman Imman web site.

The Friendship Caravan Partners With Royal Air Maroc

The Friendship Caravan is pleased to announce that Royal Air Maroc, the flagship carrier of the Kingdom of Morocco, is a major sponsor of several of our events, including Friendship Fest in Marrakech, the Morocco-America Business Forum in Fez, and the June visit to Morocco of American TV star Jorja Fox. To find out more about the airline with more than 50 years of experience, visit www.royalairmaroc.com/ENG

American TV Star Reaches Out to Moroccan Women

The cast of CSI; Jorja Fox (Sara Sidle) is second from left

Joining Jorja Fox will be her friend Cheri Shankar, board member of several non-profit organizations in Los Angeles, California. The two hope to forge lasting bonds of friendship with women leaders in this Muslim nation that is experiencing a “smooth revolution” as a result of steps taken by King Mohammed VI to empower women in all walks of life. They plan to propose the creation of a conference in 2006 celebrating women innovators from both nations. The trip came as a result of an invitation from Friendship Caravan President Michael Kirtley and Moorish architectural designer Adil Naji, the Friendship Caravan’s Vice-President. Adil and Michael will be accompanying Jorja and Cheri to Morocco.

Morocco is one of the most fascinating and culturally rich countries in the world. In exotic locales such as Fez, Casablanca, Marrakech, and the Sahara Desert, Jorja and Cheri hope to reach out in goodwill toward the Moroccan people, especially at a time in history where cross-cultural friendship with the Arab/Muslim world is crucial to world peace. They plan on offering ongoing support from American women to their Moroccan counterparts, particularly following the galvanizing impact of the progressive new Moroccan family law called Moudwanna. They will meet numerous leaders and dignitaries in politics, government, social reform, education, business and the arts, and take time to enjoy Morocco’s architecture, art, music, folklore, and natural beauty.

Echoing the goals of The Friendship Caravan, Jorja Fox says the following:

“In this day and age, I believe it is of vital importance to find ways to transcend the stereotypes and misconceptions we might have of each other and to recognize how much we have in common. The importance of family, our love of nature and beauty, and most of all our desire for freedom and equality, are ideals we all share.

I hope to encourage other people to visit and to be more understanding of cultures that are different than their own. I also hope that we will be able to spread this message by laying the groundwork with The Friendship Caravan and Moroccan partners for an annual ‘America-Morocco Friendship Conference of Women Innovators.’”


Jorja Fox as Sara Sidle

  Further information on Jorja Fox and CSI 

Morocco-USA Business Forum in Fez May 2-5 2005

The Morocco-USA Business Forum will bring together more than one hundred business entrepreneurs and professional leaders from both Morocco and the United States for a four-day event in Fez , Morocco ’s historic cultural capital. The purpose of this gathering will be learn more about doing business in both countries and to create relationships that lead to economic trade and other kinds of professional exchange. This event is especially timely in light of the recently-signed Free Trade Agreement between Morocco and the United States , only the second treaty of its kind signed between America and an Arab nation. It is sponsored by the city of Fez together with other Moroccan partners, the Josh McDowell Organization, and The Friendship Caravan working together with the Moroccan Embassy in Washington , DC .

Friendship Fest in Marrakech May 6-8 2005

Friendship Fest Morocco will be a celebration of shared values and friendship through music that is anticipated will draw at least 20,000 people from all over the world – including Moroccans, Americans, and Europeans. The high point will be a three-day music festival featuring American pop groups and both modern and traditional groups from Morocco. Already numerous well-known American groups have generously offered to perform in Morocco without compensation, among them Newsboys, Jeremy Camp, Delirious, Joy Williams, Out of Eden, and Phil Keaggy.

Moroccan diva Karima Skalli will also participate.

  Visit the Friendship Fest Morocco web site

  Information about the Kingdom of Morocco (Word 181 kb)

  Morocco Links

About the Friendship Caravan

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