In 1992, tragedy struck 32-year-old Amina Laraki Slaoui while on vacation with her husband in Costa Rica. During a beach outing, a severe bicycle accident caused her to fall from a bridge, leaving her paralysed instantly.
“…You could not imagine that something like this could happen in a few seconds,” she explained in an interview with Harvard Business School one year ago. “…I had a choice. It was like, Should I fight or should I surrender? I decided to use my wheelchair as a tool to ignite some change in the mindset of not only the public but also the government. And it was powerful.”
Following this life-altering event, Amina underwent six months of physical rehabilitation in the United States and France. As a successful communications expert and mother of four, her perspective on disability transformed dramatically. Upon returning to Morocco, she was struck by the lack of support and care available for the physically impaired in her country. “Almost 10% of the population is physically impaired, whilst 78% of those of working age that are disabled are unemployed.” she shared in an exclusive interview with UNIAPAC World Congress.
Impacting lives through AMH Group
The absence of care, infrastructure, and quality medical care for physically impaired persons in many countries is disheartening, and this inspired her to start the AMH Group (Amicale Marocaine des Handicapés)- the first non-profit organisation based in Casablanca, Morocco. The organisation was initially called the Friendly Moroccan Disabled in 1992.
Amina Laraki Slaoui, who holds a master’s in Private International Law from Paris Panthéon-Assas University, is currently the President of AMH Group. Her NGO uses mediums such as health, social services, professional training, and advocacy to meet the needs of physically impaired people.
“I am Saïd, a teacher-researcher. I spent more than two and a half years in the Noor Hospital Center, which I consider my second home. I had a traffic accident that turned my life upside down. Since then, I could no longer move. After my hospitalisation at the centre, I entered a long process of rehabilitation and reeducation, allowing me to relearn how to walk. Walking again was an inaccessible dream for me, but thanks to my determination and the centre staff at AMH, I can stand up and even climb the stairs,” narrates Saïd, a beneficiary of the AMH rehabilitation program. The AMH Group has been an expert in the health sector for over twenty years, supporting its beneficiaries through rehabilitation and re-adaptation services for all types of physical impairment.
Awards and achievements
In 2008, Amina was awarded the Prix Coup de Cœur for her philanthropic work in developing the country. Later, in 2014, she received an Award for Humanitarian and Civic Services from the Takreem Foundation and the Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the Schwab Foundation in 2015. With over five structures, 250+ employees, and over 3000 free annual medical procedures, the AMH group has successfully reached over 25,000 beneficiaries.
Amina may be in a wheelchair, but she is far from limited. As a fighter, she has proven that disability is not a barrier to success. By challenging misconceptions, she demonstrates that physical disability should not be seen as the end of the road.
