Morocco is the third most populous Arab country in the World. Most Moroccans are Arab, Berber, or mixed Arab-Berber stock. About three-quarters of all present-day Moroccans are of Berber descent, while Arabs form the second largest ethnic group. Arabic is the national language, also French is widely used and understood.
English is quickly becoming the foreign language of choice among educated youth (after Arabic and French). As a result of national education reforms English will be taught in all public schools from the fourth year on. In Morocco primary school education is free and compulsory until age 15. Nevertheless, many children – particularly girls – still do not attend school. The country's literacy is about 50%, but reaches as high as 90% among girls in rural regions.
In Morocco volunteers have a chance to explore imperial cities, wander through medieval souks, marvel at the Moorish architectural, enjoy the sites, smells and sounds of the largest outdoor African market. Morocco has been known for its manufacture of exotic and refined objects, from leather goods, to rugs, potteries, jewelry and woodcrafts.
Volunteering in Morocco will provide you the chance of a lifetime to explore this mystical country while giving back to the community. The Moroccan people are known for their gracious hospitality, their culinary delights, colorful markets, horse shows, acrobats and their delicious tangines and decadent sweets.
Our volunteer projects allow you to support the local children, at orphanages and primary schools, in nursery schools and teaching English to the woman and children of the community.
Volunteer with us in Morocco and Gain a Broader View of the World.
Locations Pages:
* Marrakesh
* Safi
* Morocco
1001 Dell Lane Suite B, Wyncote, PA 19095, USA Volunteer Abroad Project
Tel: 1-215-780-1845 / Toll Free: 1-866-423-3258 / Fax: 1-215-887-0915
volunteers@abroaderview.org - www.abroaderview.org - info@abroaderview.org
Volunteering Abroad in Marrakesh, Morocco: Our projects are located in Marrakesh, one of the Imperial cities and the capital of the south of Morocco. It is a city of immense beauty, low, red and tent like before a great shaft of the Atlas Mountains. As a historical and cultural crossroad, Marrakech offers a diverse mix of Berber, Oriental, and Spanish-Moorish artistic culture which is proudly displayed in the architecture and the decoration of the entire city. Marrakech comprises both an old fortified city, the Medina and an adjacent modern city. The largest traditional market can be found in Marrakesh and one of the busiest squares, the Djemaa el Fna. The square buzzes with acrobats, story-tellers, snake charmers by day; and by night the square turns into food stalls, becoming a huge open-air restaurant with busy life.
The people of Marrakesh are renowned for their warmth and sociability, their humor and directness. There is a greater openness too, with women enjoying a more public presence, often riding mopeds around on the streets. Even at its heart, Marrakesh feels more like a collection of villages than an urban center, with quarters formed and maintained by successive generations of migrants from the countryside.
Poverty is essentially a rural phenomenon in Morocco. Almost one in every four people living in rural areas is poor, compared to one in ten in urban areas. This brings many people to the large cities like Marrakesh in search of a better life and work. There is high unemployment and poverty in Marrakesh and our programs are focused on helping disadvantaged children and orphans and supporting education in the community.
We offer the following programs in Marrakesh:
Program Length: From 1 to 12 weeks
Program Date: Flexible Start & End Date*
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 hour per day
Accommodations:
Meals: Yes, 3 meals a day
Requirements:
Orphanage Assistance:
Volunteers help to improve the quality of life for children in a variety of homes, centers for disadvantaged children and disabled centers in Marrakesh. The staff simply do not have time to provide the individual care and attention that the children require. There is a great deal volunteers do to contribute to the general care and support of the children. Children range in age from 6yrs to teenagers. The daily work depends a lot on the ages of the children you are working with. Volunteering may involve assisting with the day-to-day practical care of the children; ensuring they get up on time and preparing their meals, as well as playing games, organizing activities and trips, and offering the children the vital one-to-one attention which they crave. The older children often require help with homework, support with developing social and life skills and you may also find yourself teaching some basic English lessons. Volunteer help not only stimulates the children but also alleviates the stress felt by the overstretched staff.
Child Care & Nursery School Program:
Volunteers work side by side with the day-care staff looking after young children. Volunteers can bring ideas and helping hands to the nursery. There are around 60 children from one month to 12 years old adopted by the orphan nursery. These kids are rejected from their single mothers or found on the street after their birth. Volunteers playing with kids, teaching them things like the alphabet, poems, songs etc. Volunteers would also help feeding the children, which often implies literally putting food in their mouths, changing diapers and helping comfort the small infants. Prior experience is not necessary.
Teaching English
As a volunteer with our Teach English Program, you will be working in local community canters that desperately need teachers and support from native English speakers. Volunteers will create their own lessons according to your students’ needs and teaching those lessons with creativity, patience and compassion. By using flash cards, creative activities and handouts you will create an effective lesson plan. You will also have to opportunity to help students with their homework, organize games, and assist with administrative work. Volunteers in Marrakech will not only be teaching English to students who would otherwise have little or no language instruction, but will also have the opportunity to mentor and be a role model for young Moroccan at a critical time in their lives. Prior teaching experience is not required.
As a volunteer in Morocco, you will find that you are much in demand, not just from your students, but from other groups within the community. Your local teaching colleagues will be keen to practice their spoken English and brush up their grammar with you, and you will doubtless find yourself giving informal lessons to members of your host family. This is a fantastic way for you to create bonds with these people, and begin to feel at home in their culture!
Program Includes:
Airport arrival transfer in Marrakesh. Orientation and sightseeing day with local ABV Project Director. Accommodations with a Host Family (private bedroom/shared bath) Three meals per day included, 7 days a week. Project briefing with ABV staff, transport to project site and 24/7hr support from ABV Project Director. Departure transfer at the end of the program. *Optional guesthouse accommodation can be arranged, inquire about more details.
