From NEET Youth to Entrepreneur: Houda Saadane’s Journey with the AgroHub Bootcamp

21/09/2026

At the El Allama Madani Seffar New Generation Second Chance Centre in Salé Tabriquet, Houda Saadane took a decisive step—from being part of a generation identified as NEET (not in employment, education or training) to pursuing an entrepreneurial path. Her brand, Tkarmicha, showcases Moroccan local products through dried fruits, vegetable powders and granola biscuits. Her journey was made possible by AgroHub, a joint programme of FAO Morocco and the Moroccan Corps for Education and Development (CMED), which supports NEET youth in developing green and responsible businesses.

A Profile, a Turning Point

Before joining the El Allama Madani Seffar New Generation Second Chance Centre in Salé Tabriquet, Houda Saadane was part of the Moroccan youth population identified by the acronym NEET—not in employment, education or training. A category that statistics struggle to capture, yet one that has a significant impact on local communities, particularly among young women. Her journey could have stopped there. Instead, it took a different direction the day she walked through the Centre’s doors and her path crossed with the AgroHub programme.

AgroHub, the Gateway

A joint programme of FAO Morocco and the Moroccan Corps for Education and Development, AgroHub carries a slogan that captures its ambition: “Turn your idea into a sustainable project.” Its focus is the New Generation Second Chance Centres, where it supports NEET youth towards green and responsible entrepreneurship through three interconnected mechanisms: bootcamps, hackathons, and social and solidarity-based microfranchises. Its methodology is based on the Responsible Investment in Agriculture (RIA) approach, using an international framework that grounds projects, from the earliest stages of development, in the principles of sustainability, social responsibility and the circular economy. Its gender dimension is also intentional: nearly 60 percent of young NEET participants who completed the AgroHub bootcamp training are young women. This focus responds to a structural need—to open up access to entrepreneurship for young women in rural and peri-urban areas.

The Bootcamp: A Turning Point

It was during one of these bootcamps that Houda’s trajectory changed. From 14 to 17 April 2026, at the El Allama Madani Seffar Centre, she spent four days working with other project developers on the fundamentals: an introduction to food systems transformation, the circular economy, a responsible Business Model Canvas adapted to the RIA approach, technical training tailored to each project, and an equipment needs assessment. The theoretical training was complemented by field visits, including a tour of the Centre’s greenhouse and composting facilities, as well as a visit to the SIAM agricultural fair in Meknes to consolidate their learning and gather information to further develop their projects. On the final day, participants presented their projects through a simulated pitch.

Houda left with more than an idea: she had a structured project, a methodology and a plan. Her brand had a name: Tkarmicha, or “T9armicha,” literally meaning “crunchy” in Moroccan Darija. The concept was clear: a range of healthy snacks—including dried fruits, vegetable powders and granola biscuits—showcasing local products. The programme’s objective of accelerating young people’s businesses and increasing their sources of income had taken tangible shape in Houda’s journey.

SIAV: The First Stage

An idea validated during a bootcamp only becomes a business when it meets a market. Houda experienced this first-hand at the 5th edition of the IAV Hassan II Agricultural Fair (SIAV), held under the theme “Territorial Intelligence and Sustainable Sovereignty: Water, Soil, Agriculture and Food Processing at the Heart of Climate Resilience.” Alongside other projects supported by AgroHub, Tkarmicha benefited from its first institutional showcase. Presenting her products, engaging with potential buyers, discovering a professional ecosystem and securing her first order were all important steps in her transition from project developer to entrepreneur.

Today, Her Own Workshop

SIAV marked an important first milestone. A second followed shortly afterwards, with the inauguration at the El Allama Madani Seffar Centre of five new work units for NEET youth, established through the partnership between FAO Morocco and CMED. These dedicated spaces now allow young people to develop, produce and showcase the results of their circular economy initiatives.

Houda Saadane is among the first beneficiaries. She now has her own workshop within the CMED, equipped with her own machinery, including a peeler and vegetable dryer. The shift is decisive: from an idea validated during a bootcamp, she has moved to an independent production capacity. She puts it simply: “This dryer, these machines, this space—it changes everything. We’re no longer young people being helped; we’re producers.”

Beyond their productive function, these five units also serve as models for other young people at the Centre. They provide a living example—a tangible illustration of the opportunities that green entrepreneurship can create: a future shaped by choice and supported by sustainable financial independence. “The CMED Centre and FAO helped me structure my project and gave me the means to build it through technical training, the workspace and the equipment,” says Houda Saadane.

Looking Ahead

For FAO Morocco, Houda Saadane’s story is not an isolated case, but an illustration of a broader model: what a second-chance policy can achieve when it is supported by a structured green entrepreneurship programme and close, hands-on guidance. At the intersection of gender, youth and food systems transformation, these are the levers that FAO Morocco and CMED will continue to mobilize to open pathways towards dignified and sustainable livelihoods for NEET youth, particularly young women.