On behalf of the High Atlas Foundation (HAF), I am writing to renew our invitation for universities around the world to join a growing network of academic institutions engaged in meaningful, measurable partnerships centered on carbon mitigation, community development, and student learning and engagement.

Our reason for reaching out again is simple: we have seen firsthand what these collaborations can achieve, and we believe the model we have developed together without university partners represents a genuinely replicable and impactful framework.

HAF has cultivated longstanding partnerships with leading institutions for carbon mitigation, including the University of Virginia (UVA), UWC Robert Bosch College, and University College London. These collaborations have demonstrated that academic institutions can deliver measurable environmental and social impact while simultaneously enriching the learning experiences of their students. Through these partnerships, student teams have conducted on-the-ground research and consulting in Morocco, contributing directly to reforestation and carbon sequestration projects that benefit rural communities. Students have returned from their experience with a deepened understanding of sustainable development, participatory approaches, and the intersection of climate action and human well-being.

A recent reflection on our collaboration with UVA’s Darden School of Business illustrates the breadth of what such partnerships can look like in practice, from carbon credits to genuine community partnership. We invite you to read more here:

With the urgency of the climate crisis only growing, and with universities increasingly called upon to demonstrate their commitment to sustainability beyond their own campuses, we believe this is an especially timely movement to explore what we might build together. HAF brings decades of experience working with Moroccan communities, a robust network of local partners, and a proven approach to participatory, rights-based development. Your university would bring research capacity, student talent, and institutional commitment, a combination that has already proven transformative.
 

We would be delighted to discuss further how a partnership with your institution could be tailored to your priorities, academic calendar, and sustainability commitments. Please do not hesitate to reach out to begin the conversation.
 
Sincerely,

Yossef Ben-Meir, PhD

President, High Atlas Foundation

yossef@highatlasfoundation.org