Meryem Elmzouak, a Moroccan immigrant residing in Sweden, carries with her a rich journey of psychological and social experience, as well as cultural and political commitment, making her a bridge connecting Morocco and Moroccans abroad. Through her community activities and leadership of the Women's Union in the Scandinavian countries, she works to strengthen national identity, support integration, and advocate for the community's issues. Meryem Elmzouak ‹ › In the depths of the Scandinavian winter, where the long, cold Swedish nights prevail, Moroccan immigrant Meryem Elmzouak finds solace in poetry and community work that bridges thousands of Moroccans to their homeland. This is the tale of a woman who, armed with an academic foundation from Mohammed V University in Rabat, where she graduated in sociology and psychology in 1990 under the mentorship of the late Mohamed Guessous, builds a cultural link across the Mediterranean. Meryem's roots trace back to the bustling heart of Casablanca, before she moved to Rabat to pursue her studies under one of Morocco's most esteemed sociology professors. Her academic journey sharpened her social and psychological insights, equipping her to tackle the challenges of migration and thrive in multicultural settings. In 1991, Meryem made her way to Sweden, embarking on a new educational path. She studied Swedish at Stockholm University and spent three years at the Swedish Institute, specializing in «psychological rehabilitation.» This training armed her with the skills needed to comprehend the complexities faced by immigrants, allowing her to provide effective psychological and social support. Commitment to migrant and homeland issues Elmzouak began her professional journey at an Arabic radio station in Stockholm, where she tackled migration and immigrant issues with a calm demeanor and assured rhetoric. She later transitioned to working with Stockholm's municipality, focusing on supporting abused women by merging her psychological expertise with hands-on social work. Today, she leads the Women's Union in the Scandinavian countries, which includes numerous Moroccan associations in the area. As she told Yabiladi, the union concentrates on «integration, equality, equal opportunities, defending Moroccan identity, and advocating national issues on regional and international platforms.» «Our goal is to empower the Moroccan community here, not only in terms of rights but also in terms of identity and connection to our homeland. We strive to be a clear voice explaining Morocco's perspective and preserving our culture in the diaspora.» Meryem Elmzouak Meryem, a mother of three and grandmother of two, organizes meetings and seminars with Moroccan experts to discuss various homeland issues, such as the family code debate and the autonomy proposal for the Sahara in light of recent UN resolutions. Meryem explains, «we reach out to renowned Moroccan figures in various fields and organize seminars attended by members of the Moroccan community from different Scandinavian countries, as well as Swedish officials.» She adds, «we also facilitate meetings between Moroccan officials and Swedish parliamentarians to clarify Morocco's stance on various issues, particularly our territorial integrity. We invite representatives from Laayoune and Dakhla to share their perspectives, countering the propaganda propagated by the Kingdom's adversaries here in Scandinavia.» Poetic creativity and academic writing Beyond the political endeavors of the union, it aims, according to Meryem, to «maintain the connection with Moroccan culture by inviting Moroccan artists during events and holidays and fostering national identity among younger generations.» Beneath the community activist persona lies a multifaceted woman. Meryem Elmzouak is preparing to release a poetry collection this year, showcasing her poetic expressions. She describes writing as «a companion when I am alone.» Additionally, she is working on a book, «a psychological study in the field of family and children,» set to be published in both Arabic and English. Meryem also regularly contributes articles to Swedish media outlets, where she shares her insights on migration, immigrant issues, and matters concerning Morocco. In her concluding remarks to our site, Meryem emphasized her efforts to fill a significant gap in community work among the Moroccan diaspora in Sweden, despite the limited self-resources available, highlighting that «in the Scandinavian countries, there is still much work to be done.»
