“The Voice of Moon Children” Association in Fez Celebrates Winning the “Arab Hope Maker” Award

In Fez, a celebration of hope shines brightly as “The Voice of Moon Children” honors its founder’s award-winning efforts.

Fez– A group of “Moon Children” gathered to celebrate a man who created a safe shadow for them in a world full of ultraviolet rays and social exclusion.

Ahmed Zenoun, the founder and president of the “Voice of Moon Children for Development Association” , returned from Dubai with the prestigious Arab Hope Maker Award in its fifth edition, but in their eyes, he had been a hope maker since day one.

The award, launched by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in 2017, honors the heroes of goodwill across the Arab world, but Zenoun was determined to make this celebration a tribute to the real heroes: the “Moon Children.”

The ceremony, held on Saturday in Fez, was filled with emotion and joy, attended by a large number of children affected by the rare XP genetic disorder, their families, and local figures.

Between the artistic performances and touching moments, gifts were distributed to the children, who, in turn, shared heartfelt testimonies about the real change the association brought into their lives.

These children cannot be exposed to sunlight without special protection, as their skin cannot handle ultraviolet rays.

Their illness isolates them, marginalizes them, and forces them to live in the shadows. The “Voice of Moon Children Association” did not stop at offering sympathy but took proactive steps by providing advanced protective gear, some of which were obtained in collaboration with NASA, as well as offering free medical checkups, protective creams, sunglasses, masks, and medical gloves.

Zenoun stated that the association currently supports over 230 cases and strives to create an environment where this group can live as normally as possible, raising awareness of their plight through education, conferences, and social media platforms.

Meanwhile, Bilal Al-Habashi, one of the beneficiaries of the association’s services, expressed his gratitude by saying that, after years of suffering from his genetic disease, he is now able to step out of the darkness into the light, thanks to God and Ahmed Zenoun.

He pointed to the role of the “Voice of Moon Children Association” in providing a safe environment for him to live his life without fear of the severe consequences of sun exposure.

Al-Habashi, who hopes for further government attention towards the “Moon Children, said that thanks to Zenoun’s humanitarian initiatives, the voice of this marginalized group has reached the right ears.

He proudly declared that Zenoun deserved to be recognized as the best “Hope Maker” in the Arab world.