Build a School in Atlas mountain
“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”
― Malcolm X
My name is Puja and I wanted to share this project in which I have the pleasure to be a part of. I became involved with Volunteer Morocco about 5-6 years ago. However, to be completely honest the experience gave me much more than I was or will ever be able to give it solely. In the end of my first visit to Morocco my experience made me realize it takes a village, maybe even a few to make true impact such as how this project is trying to achieve. I could go into details about my experiences working with them, but in the end I feel the focus should be directed towards the children/prime goals of the project. Initiative involves helping the children of multiple rural villages in Morocco gain access to a basic/proper education that every human not only deserves, but should be a fundamental human right. Down below will help provide more history about the Volunteer Morocco initiative including the main website and key historical facts about the country. We truly appreciate all of the help/support in helping change the lives of many young lives so thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
When Morocco gained its independence from France in 1956, illiteracy rate was standing at 96% according to the UNESCO, literacy rate in 2012 was 69% where most affected were the children and those living in rural areas of Morocco. This population is also more likely not to continue their education past the primary level of age 12. While some of this is cultural, other factors that can be mainly attributed to are lack of access.
Many villages do not have schools and students will walk for at least an hour or longer to get to a school in one of the neighboring villages. Because of the poor infrastructure, unpaved roads, and scarcity of running water teachers’ high turnover rate becomes a real issue. Many teachers commute and will not show up to work during inclement weather condition.
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/morocco-teachers-battle-urban-rural-education-divide-150625081603977.html
Having investigated the situation and assessed the needs, Volunteer Morocco began considering ways to help. In 2007, with its very first Global Health Service Learning Trip, VM began donating school supplies to the students in these villages. In 2008, VM launched the first afterschool program with a part-time teacher whose salary was paid with donations from American students participating in these Service Learning Trips. During each trip, student volunteers would teach English, French and math at the afterschool program. In 2009 Volunteer Morocco added a computer literacy program to its Service Learning Trips and in 2011 VM began building its first classroom in the village of Ighilnbaha. All building materials were donated. Students on a Service Learning Trip for Global Health donated their time to build the initial walls. It took us 4 years to complete this classroom. However, our ultimate goal was to build a school. We began working with the village association and the Ministry of education to complete the paperwork to organize a school. We have a few more requirements to be met in order to acquire the status of a public school supported by the government. We still need to add one or two more classrooms; we need to add a toilet for the boys and one for the girls. We need to add a room for the teachers to stay overnight. We also need to furnish the classrooms and buy books and supplies. While not a required component of the school, we would eventually like to add some form of solar power to provide lights and to power computers.
We are very close to our goal. These kids are very eager to learn. Their parents are NOT keeping them from getting an education. We really need your help so that this does not take another 4 or more years to accomplish.
Volunteer Morocco has been working since 2007 to improve access to healthcare, education, and farming technologies. Volunteer Morocco has devoted much of its effort to empowering and assisting in the formation of micro-enterprises as well as creating an environment for intercultural exchange of ideas and understanding for the people of the rural villages of Morocco
https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2013/07/98012/education-in-rural-regions-of-morocco/