ST Foundation talks: meet Farah Arron, our Morocco Country Manager
Welcome to the fourth edition of ST Foundation Talks, a series connecting you with the inspiring individuals leading ST Foundation initiatives around the world. In this series, we interview our dedicated Country Managers to learn more about their journeys, challenges, and the positive impact they are making in their communities.
This month of December opens with a chat with Farah, our Country Manager in Morocco. With nearly ten years of experience as electronic engineer at STMicroelectronics in France and Morocco, Farah joined ST Foundation in 2015 to bridge the digital divide in her country.
Farah, can you tell us about yourself?
I’m French-Moroccan and studied Electronics Engineering. I started my career at STMicroelectronics in Grenoble, France, where I spent several years working in R&D. Later, I joined the team in Rabat, Morocco, to continue in the same field. These experiences gave me a deep sense of innovation and teamwork, and helped me see how technology can change lives.
In 2015, I accepted a new challenge by joining the ST Foundation as Country Manager for Morocco. This role allowed me to bridge my technical expertise with a cause close to my heart: education and digital inclusion.
What does your role involve?
As Country Manager, my role is to ensure the Foundation’s strategy is effectively implemented on the ground. I manage partnerships, coordinate projects, and support our trainers and centers. I also monitor results and make sure our activities stay aligned with the Foundation’s mission and standards.
Every day is different. One moment I’m in a meeting with a local partner, and the next I’m reviewing data, planning a new initiative, or reporting to the headquarters. This blend of strategic planning and hands-on fieldwork is what makes the role both challenging and rewarding.
What’s the most rewarding part of your work?
What I enjoy most is seeing the real impact of our work. Watching young people, women, and people in vulnerable situations gain new skills and confidence is deeply rewarding. Every new center we open is a new opportunity for change and for greater digital inclusion in Morocco.
A story that stayed with you?
What stands out most to me is the collective impact we’ve seen over the years. Thousands of learners across Morocco have gained digital skills that help them study, work, or grow their small businesses.
I remember a woman from a small village in the Atlas Mountains who worked in a carpet-making cooperative. After completing our training, she was proud to tell us that she could now manage her stock and sales using Excel. For her, it was a big step, a simple skill that made her work easier and gave her more independence. Stories like hers remind me why digital inclusion truly matters.
Bridging the digital divide is never easy…
One of the main challenges in Morocco is the gap between urban and rural areas when it comes to digital access. Many people in remote regions still have limited infrastructure and fewer opportunities to learn digital skills. We try to find creative solutions, like setting up mobile labs or sending trainers with laptops to reach learners in distant areas. One of our dreams is to create a digital bus—a mobile technology lab that can travel across the country and bring technology directly to those communities that are often left behind.
How do you see the future of the Foundation’s work?
I believe the future will be about going further in impact and innovation. We want to strengthen our existing centers and make them models of quality and sustainability. Our goal is to train more people, but also to train better.
We will continue exploring new learning models, including coding and robotics, and use technology to make education more inclusive. Morocco is ready to take a new step in digital inclusion, and the Foundation has an essential role to play in that progress.