Radio 2M talks about LIFE ONG

On October 9, 2024, Radio 2M, Moroccan radio, Interview the president of our NGO LIFE, Tarek El Kahodi.

In it, he gives an impressive summary of his career and the achievements of LIFE. Currently present in 25 countries, including in conflict areas such as the Horn of Africa and Gaza, our NGO focuses on crucial actions such as access to drinking water, hygiene, sanitation, food security, Education and The environment.
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LIFE's commitment in crisis areas‍

For more than ten years, we have been working in gaza, in Palestine, where the living conditions of the population are critical. Our teams also strive to meet the needs of Syrian and Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, where two million people live in precariousness. The situation is unprecedented and now affects the whole country. Despite the dangers, we continue to operate in these sectors. Tarek says that we have already lost several members of our staff since last October, especially during food distributions.‍

Responsiveness to disasters‍

Our NGO was also distinguished by its ability to react quickly during the Earthquake that hit Morocco in September 2023. Thanks to 180,000 donors, mainly private donors, we raised over one million euros to support the victims. “We were able to act immediately, distributing emergency and survival kits, before moving on to The recovery phase ”, underlines Tarek El Kahodi. Quickly, to allow children to return to school in safe conditions, we set up temporary wooden and then prefabricated schools, in partnership with the Moroccan Ministry of Education.

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A model of co-development with local partners‍

With more than 4,000 projects to its credit, our NGO LIFE carries out diversified actions, especially in areas affected by drought in sub-Saharan Africa. Tarek explains that the organization's initiatives go beyond emergency aid. For example, school canteens, which are present in Morocco and in countries such as Benin and Togo, ensure that no child goes to school hungry. This has led to a decrease in absenteeism, an increase in attendance, and an improvement in school success rates.

One of the strengths of our NGO lies in its ability to work in collaboration with local associations., a co-development model that Tarek describes as essential. “We work with local partners who know the field better and are able to carry out turnkey projects successfully, which allows us to act effectively.”‍

A humanitarian vocation born from personal experience‍

Tarek El Kahodi's personal story is deeply linked to his humanitarian commitment. Born with a visual disability, he remembers the concerns of his parents, but also their unwavering hope. “My parents believed in me, despite the obstacles,” he says, recounting how a man in Morocco predicted that he would achieve great things. This message guided him throughout his life. After a successful career in IT, in particular at Orange when the iPhone was launched in France, and an entrepreneurial experience with the creation of a restaurant, he chose to devote himself fully to humanitarian work. “I always had a humanitarian streak, and I wanted to do more,” he confides.

 
Today, he leads a team of 40 employees, operating completely remotely, and relies on a solid network of local partners to amplify the impact of our NGO LIFE.

This neighborhood association has become an international organization, but its objective remains the same: provide vital support to those who need it most.

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