OUR GOALS

The foundation’s initial and ultimate goal was to build a school for girls. During the summer of 2023, board members of Soumya’s Journey did an exploratory trip to the Atlas Mountains to assess feasibility. They immersed themselves in the vibrant culture and connected with the people of the Atlas Mountains. The members visited local homes, and engaged in heartwarming conversations.

Their experience was eye-opening. During their interactions with the people, they were deeply moved by the stories of bright and talented young girls who, despite completing their high school education, find themselves facing the reality of early marriage. At this time education offers few employment opportunities as there is no work for women. The women expressed interest in trade education. This led the board to introduce the Women's Cooperative.

The cooperative will serve as a transformative platform to empower the women of the Atlas Mountains, economically and socially. Soumya’s Journey will offer financial support at the start of the cooperative, offering them help in education, marketing, space renovation, materials to produce the products, etc. The funding provided by Soumya’s Journey will be temporary until the cooperative is a stand alone profit organization. This is one of the many projects aiming to secure education for the girls of the Atlas Mountains and bring opportunities to develop their potential.

Soumya and Dr. Pier’s Journey

I was five years old when I first met Pier, my adoptive mom, during her visit to my village in the Atlas Mountains. She is an orthopedic surgeon who had taken notice of my little brother's (nicknamed “Little Mo”) clubbed feet and wanted to help him. What she didn’t know is that I had immediately taken notice of her, too. Whenever she visited, I attached myself to her because I was drawn to everything she represented outside of my small village. She was my only insight to the outside world. I wanted to learn everything I could from this amazing woman who told me that in the United States, I could be whatever I wanted.

When my teachers said I couldn't continue my education because I wasn't smart enough and needed to start looking for a husband as is tradition in my village, Pier adopted me so I could come to the US and continue my education. My biological parents knew I dreamed of doing more than just getting married young - I wanted to keep learning - and supported us every step of the way.

Thanks to Pier (who I now call mom), I graduated high school in the US, started my own foundation, and just began college at US Amherst. I’m so thankful she noticed my brother, “Little Mo”, and decided to help fix his clubbed feet. Without her, none of this would have been possible.

To learn more about our journey get your copy of The Little Mo Effect on Amazon today.

100% sales from the book are donated to our organization.