Cyclists’ 2,000-Mile Journey to Aid Moroccan Orphans Halted by COVID-19

"Atlas Kinder is a village that takes care of abandoned children, orphans, and single mothers. It’s not like in France. There, there are no shelters, no state aid," explains Fouad Tilaoui, 40, a tennis coach and physical trainer at the Tennis Club Baden and Tennisschule Aarau West. He and his brother Mohamed, 43, an industrial plumber, two Ludovicians have 2,173.5 km to go. The idea of making this trip came to him after his adventure on the Eurovélo 6 and the visit of two orphanages in Morocco.

This great traveler had worked for two years as a tennis coach in Casablanca from 2006 to 2008. During his stay, he had visited an orphanage in northern Morocco, with the MJID Foundation, founded by the former president of the Moroccan tennis federation. First trigger for Fouad. He says he realized the need of many orphaned or abandoned children. He then went to the Atlas Children’s Village founded by the Swiss Hansjörg Huber, in 2015, in Morocco. Second trigger.

"This is the fifth time I’ve embarked on this journey. I wanted it to be pleasant and useful," Fouad announced. He and his brother had set off this summer to reach Marrakech. They were able to cross Alsace, Andalusia, Jura, the Landes, Gruissan to reach Gibraltar on July 29 where their bicycle race stopped there. The reason, passage complications, the canceled return flight from Marrakech and the general lockdown of all major Moroccan cities. "We were informed that there were Covid-19 cases in Tahanaoute, the town where the children’s village is located."

While waiting for an opportunity to finish their race, Fouad and Mohamed are playing the card of patience.