Radio 2M talks about LIFE

On 9 October 2024, Moroccan radio station Radio 2M interviewed Tarek El Kahodi, president of LIFE.

He looks back on an impressive journey, both his own and LIFE's. Now working in 25 countries, including conflict zones such as the Horn of Africa and Gaza, our organisation focuses on vital work such as access to safe drinking water, hygiene and sanitation, food security, education and the environment.

LIFE's commitment in crisis zones

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

Responding swiftly to disasters

Our organisation also stood out for how quickly it responded to the earthquake that struck Morocco in September 2023. Thanks to 180,000 donors, mostly private individuals, we raised more than 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," says Tarek El Kahodi. So that children could quickly return to school in safe conditions, we set up temporary classrooms, first in wood and then prefabricated, in partnership with the Moroccan Ministry of Education.

A co-development model with local partners

With more than 4,000 projects to its name, LIFE carries out a wide range of work, particularly in drought-stricken areas of sub-Saharan Africa. Tarek explains that the organisation's initiatives go beyond emergency aid. School canteens, for example, running in Morocco and in countries such as Benin and Togo, ensure that no child goes to school on an empty stomach. This has led to less absenteeism, higher attendance and better exam results.

One of our organisation's strengths is its ability to work hand in hand with local associations, a co-development model that Tarek describes as essential. "We work with local partners who know the ground better and can deliver turnkey projects, which allows us to act effectively."

A humanitarian calling born of personal experience

Tarek El Kahodi's personal story is deeply bound up with his humanitarian commitment. Born with a visual impairment, he remembers his parents' worries, but also their unshakeable hope. "My parents believed in me, despite the obstacles," he says, recalling how a man in Morocco predicted that he would achieve great things. That message has guided him throughout his life. After a successful career in IT, including at Orange when the iPhone launched in France, and a venture as an entrepreneur opening a restaurant, he chose to devote himself fully to humanitarian work. "I've always had a humanitarian streak, and I wanted to do more," he explains.

Today he leads a team of 40 staff, working fully remotely, and relies on a strong network of local partners to amplify LIFE's impact.

What began as a neighbourhood association has become an international organisation, but its goal remains the same: to bring vital support to those who need it most.