PROJECTS
Dardasha is an oral history project which documented the migratory experiences of the first generation of Moroccan women who came to Britain between 1960 and 1990 and settled in the Portobello area of London.
The experience of Moroccan women migrants to Britain has until now been largely hidden from view. Academic research on Moroccan migration has predominantly looked at the experiences of male migrants. The emotional realities of migration for women, the trajectory of their journeys and details of their daily lives, have thus often been misunderstood and misrepresented.
A large number of the Moroccans who first migrated to Britain were in fact women. Most of them came from northern parts of Morocco. Some arrived with work permits for factory and hospital work, some came to join husbands already working here and found work themselves in the hotel and catering industries, some came in the hope of finding work when they arrived.
All of these women came here in the hope of earning a decent living for their families. They arrived knowing nothing of what awaited them. Many suffered and endured hardship, as they worked hard to make a new life for themselves and their families.
Dardasha has for the first time enabled these brave women to tell their personal and moving stories in their own words.
The experience of Moroccan women migrants to Britain has until now been largely hidden from view. Academic research on Moroccan migration has predominantly looked at the experiences of male migrants. The emotional realities of migration for women, the trajectory of their journeys and details of their daily lives, have thus often been misunderstood and misrepresented.
A large number of the Moroccans who first migrated to Britain were in fact women. Most of them came from northern parts of Morocco. Some arrived with work permits for factory and hospital work, some came to join husbands already working here and found work themselves in the hotel and catering industries, some came in the hope of finding work when they arrived.
All of these women came here in the hope of earning a decent living for their families. They arrived knowing nothing of what awaited them. Many suffered and endured hardship, as they worked hard to make a new life for themselves and their families.
Dardasha has for the first time enabled these brave women to tell their personal and moving stories in their own words.
DARDASHA (chi't-chat) - film
Four stories of migration to the UK by Moroccan women.
Directed and edited by Alan Stepney.
DARDASHA - book
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Dardasha book Illustrated book of edited testimonies in English and Moroccan Arabic dialect, edited by Samantha Herron. June 2011 (780KB) |
DARDASHA - slideshow
Slideshow from the exhibition of photographs and documents
DARDASHA - report
Dardasha was funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Kensington Housing Trust, the Ministry for the Moroccan Community Resident Abroad (MCMRE) and the Council for the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME).
The project ran from January 2010 until June 2011, when it was launched with an Open Day at the Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall. It has subsequently been archived at the Kensington and Chelsea Library and will also be archived with the Council for the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME) in Morocco. Dardasha also been archived with the British Library. It is due to tour throughout Morocco and Europe during 2012.
The project ran from January 2010 until June 2011, when it was launched with an Open Day at the Kensington and Chelsea Town Hall. It has subsequently been archived at the Kensington and Chelsea Library and will also be archived with the Council for the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME) in Morocco. Dardasha also been archived with the British Library. It is due to tour throughout Morocco and Europe during 2012.
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Project report for the Heritage Lottery Fund Samantha Herron, Dardasha Project Leader June 2011 (480KB) |
DARDASHA - thanks
We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the women who shared their stories in Dardasha. Without their honesty, courage and generosity, these stories would never have been heard.
Thank you to Alan Stepney for the Dardasha photographs and to epitype for the design of the book.
Thank you to Alan Stepney for the Dardasha photographs and to epitype for the design of the book.
Four stories of migration to the UK by Moroccan women.
FUNDERS
   
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CONTACT US
Phone 020 8969 2292
Fax 020 8964 8843
Email contact@al-hasaniya.org.uk
Opening hours
Monday to Friday
9.30am - 5.00pm
Fax 020 8964 8843
Email contact@al-hasaniya.org.uk
Opening hours
Monday to Friday
9.30am - 5.00pm
