Volunteer Abroad in Safi, Morocco: Volunteering Opportunities www.abroaderview.org

Nov. 10, 2008 - PRLog -- Volunteer Abroad in Safi, Morocco: Volunteering Opportunities

Volunteering Abroad in Safi Morocco: We have programs in Safi, a quiet coastal town with ancient ties and industry based on pottery making and fishing. Safi lies on Morocco's central Atlantic coast and has been an important port since Roman times. The city is Morocco's most famous ceramic center, featuring an ancient potter's quarter and artisans of international reputation.

http://www.abroaderview.org/safi.php

In the 13th century the town was a fortified monastery and later on was surrounded by a citadel built by the Portuguese. Extending along the coast, the city is a mixture of medieval and modern architecture. The Dar El Bahar, an imposing main remnant of Safi's brief Portuguese occupation, sits on the waterfront, above the old port. The old Medina walls surround another fortress known as the Kechla. The town has a series of souks, food and domestic markets and unparalleled pottery shops and is a delight to explore by foot.

Living standards in Morocco are low by international standards and have declined continually since the early 1990s. As a result, the number of Moroccans living below the poverty line has risen sharply in the last decade. The uneven development among Morocco's regions has also fueled a cycle of rural-urban migration that has shown no signs of slowing down. Many people move into the city areas looking for work, causing an influx of street children and beggars. Children under 15 are the most heavily impacted by poverty.

Our programs are focused on helping disadvantaged children, orphans and supporting education efforts in Safi and in Marrakesh.

http://www.abroaderview.org/safi.php

We offer the following programs in Safi

Program Length: From 1 to 12 weeks
Program Date: Flexible Start & End Date*
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 8 hour per day
Accommodations: Home stay
Meals: Yes, 3 meals a day
Requirements: 17 years or older, an open mind to new adventures.

Orphanage Assistant:

Volunteers help to improve the quality of life for children living in a local orphanage. The staff simply don’t 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.

http://www.abroaderview.org/safi.php

Child Care & Nursery School Program:

Volunteers work side by side with the day-care staff looking after the children. Volunteers can bring ideas and helping hands to the nursery.  There are around 40 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 Safi 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. Transportation to Safi. 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 from Safi to Marrakesh at the end of the program. *Optional guesthouse accommodation can be arranged, inquire about more details.

# # #

We offer international volunteer projects for the globally-minded individual searching for a unique travel experience. We are a 501 non-profit international volunteer organization offering short and long term volunteer programs in developing countries