By Hajiba Boumasmar, Director, ABURY Hospitality Academy Marrakesh
There are moments in life that remind you why you chose the path you’re on.
For me, one of those moments was standing at the graduation ceremony of the very first ABURY Hospitality Academy cohort, watching 14 young women receive their certificates.
Looking at them that day, it was hard to believe they were the same young women who had walked through our doors nine months earlier.
Nine Months of Transformation
I still remember the first day of the Academy. Some of them arrived excited, others were nervous, and many carried questions they were too shy to ask.
Would they succeed? Would they fit in? Would this program really change anything?
They didn’t know what to expect – and honestly, neither did we. We knew we had designed a strong program, but transforming lives is never guaranteed. It happens one conversation, one challenge, and one opportunity at a time.
Watching their confidence grow over the following months has been one of the greatest privileges of my career.
I Was Once That Student, Too
People often ask me why I care so deeply about this work. The answer is simple: because I was once that young person looking for someone to believe in me.
Before becoming the Director of ABURY Hospitality Academy, I was a student searching for guidance and opportunities. I was fortunate to meet people who believed in me, mentored me, and encouraged me to dream bigger than I thought possible.
Their support changed the direction of my life.
After years of studying and working hard through some very challenging periods, I signed my first contract with a Moroccan-American NGO. At that time, I felt strongly that my community needed more opportunities for women and young people.
Over the following years, I worked in sustainable development, women’s empowerment, and youth capacity building. Those experiences taught me something that has never left me: when you invest in one woman, you often change the future of an entire family.
Somewhere during those years, I realized that community development wasn’t simply my profession – it was my purpose.
The Tuesday That Changed Everything
Then came a Tuesday that completely changed my life.
On February 25, I had my interview with Andrea and Petra. I can still remember that conversation. It didn’t feel like a traditional interview. Instead, it felt like meeting two people who shared the same values, the same vision, and the same belief that education can open doors that once seemed impossible.
By the end of that conversation, I knew something special was beginning.
Joining ABURY Hospitality Academy introduced me to a completely new world: hospitality. Until then, I had never imagined how powerful this industry could be in creating opportunities for young women.
Together with my colleagues, we worked to build not only a training program, but also a safe environment where every participant could grow, make mistakes, learn, and discover her own potential.
The Academy became much more than classrooms, lessons, and internships. It became a place where confidence was built day by day.
A Hug I Will Never Forget
One memory will stay with me forever.
On the very first day, one of our students, Khadija, arrived with her mother. She looked worried, and before leaving, her mother quietly told me that she had many questions about the Academy and didn’t feel comfortable letting her daughter come alone. She wanted to make sure she would be safe and supported.
Nine months later, at our graduation ceremony, that same mother came back to me and gave me a long hug.
She thanked me for being there for her daughter – not only as the Academy Director, but also as a mentor throughout the journey.
That moment meant more to me than words can express.
Today, Khadija has already started her professional career as a Commis Chef at a restaurant in M Avenue in Marrakesh. A few days after starting her job, she invited me to have lunch at her workplace.
Seeing her wearing her uniform, speaking confidently with her colleagues, and proudly beginning this new chapter was one of those moments that reminds you why every challenge along the way is worth it.
And she is not the only success story.
Several of our graduates are already employed in luxury hospitality, while others are continuing their training or interviewing with hotels across Marrakesh. Each of them has her own story, her own struggles, and her own dreams.
Watching those dreams slowly become reality has been the greatest reward I could ask for.
What Success Really Looks Like
People sometimes think success is measured only by certificates or employment statistics. Those achievements are important, of course. But for me, success is also found in the smaller moments.
A student who finally believes in herself.
A family that begins to see new possibilities.
A young woman who walks into a luxury hotel with confidence instead of fear.
Those are the moments that stay with you.
This first cohort has taught me as much as I hope we have taught them. They reminded me that transformation is rarely dramatic. It happens through consistency, trust, encouragement, and people who refuse to give up on one another.
From Student to Mentor
As we prepare to welcome our next cohort, I feel the same excitement I felt at the beginning of this journey. There will be new faces, new challenges, and new dreams waiting to be discovered.
Looking back, I realize that my own journey – from a student searching for guidance to someone now privileged enough to mentor others – has come full circle.
And if there is one thing I know for certain, it is this: empowering one young woman doesn’t only change her future.
It creates opportunities, hope, and inspiration that reach far beyond her. It touches families, communities, workplaces, and the next generation.
That is what makes every challenge worthwhile.
And to the next group of young women walking through our doors: bring your questions, bring your doubts, and bring your dreams.
We’ll meet you where you are – and walk this journey with you.
