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Casablanca – A spark in Casablanca this week, and it’s not just from the July sun. It’s the spark of a new generation of young Moroccans turning sustainable ideas into powerful realities. At the Grand Mogador Hotel on Wednesday, the semi-finals of the 6th edition of the Sustainable Innovation Fest (SIF) unfolded with sharp ambition, entrepreneurial fire, and a promise: Morocco’s future is not waiting, it’s building.
The event, organized by Enactus Morocco in partnership with SPARK as part of the EU-funded Green Forward initiative, gathered students from across the kingdom, 12 finalist teams out of 145 clubs, to compete for a chance to represent Morocco at the Enactus World Cup in Thailand.
A marriage of vision and action to inspire change
From the hotel lobby to the conference hall, the air was alive. Young entrepreneurs networked, practiced pitches, and swapped ideas, while inside, juries were briefed on their mission. The MC laid it out plainly: “Innovation is not invention, it’s action. Judge not just what was said, but what was done and what will surely be done.” He reminded jurors that Enactus doesn’t interfere in projects but fosters growth through guidance. “Be direct. Be fair. Push them to become great leaders.”
And greatness followed.
In League 1, FST Mohammedia opened with a vision to tackle student housing challenges through a three-pronged innovation: “Aji Nkriw,” an affordable housing solution, “CoTalib,” a student-centered consulting service, and “NutriVital,” a line of sustainable snacks and eco-bags for youth.
FP Larache followed with a powerful initiative: “Tijwal,” a tourism platform reconnecting rural Morocco with visibility and economic opportunity. Their second project increased the market value of Moroccan salt production, raising prices from 1,000 MAD/ton ($100/ton) to 2,500 MAD/ton ($250/ton), and from 2.5 MAD/kg ($0.25/kg) to 92 MAD/kg ($9/kg), to benefit local craftsmen.
But the spotlight belonged to ENSA Tangier, whose seamless presentation highlighted four distinct projects. From transforming textile waste into new crafts and upcycling fig leaves and flowers into teas, to a mental health platform rooted in social inclusion, the team embodied cross-sectoral sustainability, from circular economy to psychology.
From the audience, students expressed admiration. “Each team had a unique energy,” Yasmin, a Moroccan high schooler, told Morocco World News. “The passion, the synergy, the presentations… unforgettable.” Her friend Marwa agreed: “The way they pushed each other, the public speaking, it was beautiful to watch.”
A Saudi college student in attendance echoed the sentiment: “The organization was amazing. I was particularly inspired by the team tackling water pollution and the other pushing for economic growth in rural areas by supporting small companies there.”
After a lunch break, the festival’s tone shifted to reflection and collaboration with the Agora de l’Innovation, a cozy space designed for connection. Couches, stands of former Enactus projects, game stations, and a DJ playing in the background made it feel more like a campus than a competition.
But in the heart of the room, critical conversations were taking place. Three roundtables focused on green tech, carbon footprint reduction, and seizing sustainability opportunities.
‘Don’t wait to be told what to do’
The Agora’s keynote came from Saad Abid, founder of Bahri Association, who delivered an emotional and action-driven speech. He began with the story of Mouad, a young boy who died after stepping on a tuna can at the beach, “A victim of our pollution, our carelessness,” Saad expressed. He then challenged the youth in the room: “Don’t wait to be told what to do. Push for teaching kids to vote and take initiative in any way. Build Morocco. Build Moroccans.”
“Over 27 million people will die by 2050 due to climate change, and nearly a billion will be displaced,” warned Saad Abid. “We must fight climate injustice, and stand for humanitarian causes like the Palestinian struggle. Build Morocco. Build Moroccans.” With those words, he ignited a room full of young changemakers.
In a Q&A, Saad told MWN: “Choose a field you love. Do it for free. For a cause. Keep doing it. Let your added value grow into purpose.” He closed with: “Even if you fail, try. Even if they punch you in the face. Just start. Do it with intention. Be so great, others around you become great.”
Gen Z’s quest: clean and impactful
Later, Jihane Maklouki, Marketing and Communications Head at Flormar, brought a corporate lens to sustainability in her speech. “Gen Z is a clean generation,” she said. “They look for clean products, clean lives, and clean impact. When we launched our limited edition green collection, it resonated so much we had to make it permanent.”
Her advice? “Be a change ambassador. Represent the change. Inspire the change.”
As the event wrapped up with a live podcast and final roundtables, one thing was certain, this event wasn’t only about the competition, it was rather a greater movement.
As one participant from Enactus FSJES Ain Chok told MWN: “I truly don’t see this as a normal competition, it’s one that pushes me to grow and develop my entrepreneurial spirit. Enactus taught me to believe in my ideas, my self-worth, and what I can do for society.”
SIF 2025 is a stage for solutions. A classroom for collaboration. And a mirror reflecting a new Morocco led by the very people shaping it.
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