Founder of Childrens’ Atlas Association Hansjorg Huber Dies at 90

Rabat – Hansjorg Huber, philanthropist, and founder of the Atlas Association for Children in Marrakech, passed away on Saturday night, according to a statement from the foundation.

The Swiss-born philanthropist was famous for building an orphanage in Tahanaout, situated near Marrakech. The orphanage is home to hundreds of children, some of whom have physical disabilities.

The founder’s remains were buried in the European cemetery in Marrakech, noted the statement from the foundation.

Mourning the loss of Hansjorg Huber, the association wrote on its official Facebook page: “It is with a heavy heart that members of the Atlas Kinder Association share the news of the deeply painful loss of our Founder Hansjorg Huber.”

“The father of 200 children passed yesterday,” the statement added, concluding: “His sons will be there to carry on the humanitarian mission that ties us to the children’s village.”Hansjorg Huber moved from Zurich to Marrakech in 2008 and dedicated half his fortune to start a home for abandoned children. The orphanage welcomed its first child back in 2015.

The philanthropist was keen to share his experience as the founder of what he used to call a children’s village.

In an interview in January of this year, he said that his main motivation for establishing the foundation was to “make our children proud and strong people, who don’t let themselves be crushed just because they grow up without their biological parents.”

Hubert said, “We must, through our education, replace the missing family pride. Later, our children must be able to say, ‘I speak four languages, I play a musical instrument, I can dance and ride a horse – and what can you do?’”