Education Support for Girls in… (trip)

Education Support for Girls in Morocco (ED)

  • Menara International Airport, Marrakech, Morocco
  • Active & Adventure
Morocco, Africa

from £1,799* per person28 DaysYear-round
Comfort accommodations Exertion level: 3
Operator: People and Places - Responsible Volunteering 24 people max
This project provides opportunities for girls from remote mountain villages to continue with their education. Whilst helping the girls to reach their potential, you will learn about Berber communities in the stunningly beautiful High Atlas.

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Locations visited/nearby

Morocco, Africa

0 testimonials about this trip.

2 testimonials about the provider, People and Places - Responsible Volunteering:

  • Reviewer: Denise located in Ross-shire Scotland
    I have nothing but praise for the way that the entire volunteer experience was; from initial contact to writing this report, I have had openness, excellent communication and explanation. Thank you!.....
    – Having contacted people and places and submitted  a pen portrait of my personal and profession experience – a task that in itself was very rewarding for me – the placement was negotiated in principle. This was completed in a most professional, friendly and positive way by Kate. .. All very exciting things to do and learn about as well as background recommended reading. At this stage the support and additional information I sought from people and places was supplied by return of email and I was able to chat over possible choices with Kate – I found the whole experience most satisfactory and also learnt much from this part of the placement preparation.......
    thank you for the superb way in which you run the volunteer programme - a very satisfied customer. Thank you!
  • Reviewer: Paul located in Port Elizabeth, Easter Cape South Africa
    Our most recent volunteers, Robin and Jane, have produced an amazing amount thus far. They came to a computer lab that has departmental Cammi software on, that teachers have been using, but after a day or two of observation the recognized that teachers are only using the system to a limited degree in terms of what all it can produce. First step was to work out the software admin system, which they have done, and they have been assisting the teachers coming to the lab, and upgrading the admin of the system making it more relevant in terms of assessments for the teachers of learners abilities. Robin has had a few interesting encounters with the Education Departments Cammi support staff.
     
    They have run a couple of teacher training sessions on excel, and are setting up model lessons on how to effectively use the Cammi programme in a proper way. This will happen next week!
     
    They have standardized all the desktops, so its easier for teachers, and developed worksheets for the students who are in the lab, but cannot access a terminal due to large class sizes.
     
    And Robin has been team teaching in the grade 4 technology class, working on practical tasks that help teach technology!
     
    So their input has been tremendous.
     
    Just so we don’t forget that things never run smoothly, Nomatansanqa Township has been having the water switched off and on over the last 2 weeks. 800 children, no water for hours is not easy to manage. Added to that, getting home to their homestay and not having access to water to bath, is no fun at all. I am pleased to report though that as of middle of this week the water is back on!
     
    They had a wonderful welcoming ceremony this week, with local stakeholders in attendance. Jane was fascinated by the formality of the programme, which seemed forgotten after each speaker as everyone got up to sing some songs.
     
    On their first day, as we arrived at the school, some Grade R children were outside waving SA flags, and carrying little signs that said Welcome Robin and Jane! A real warm welcome.
    Thank you people and places for continuing to send such amazing volunteers! Keep up the good work!

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Special information

  • This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.

Itinerary

The project

 "If you educate a girl you educate the next generation as well".
This project is working with a charity that builds and runs girls’ boarding houses near secondary colleges and lycées in the High Atlas Mountains, providing the opportunity for selected girls from villages across the region to continue their education.

Through the project's provision of boarding houses, girls gain access to a secondary education and the chance to fulfil their potential in an environment that promotes academic study and social understanding. The goal is to make a difference to the lives of these girls now, and thus change many more in the future.

This innovative project is also working towards Goal 3 of the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG), specifically: to promote gender equality and empower women. The MDG Goal 3 target is to eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education, and in all levels of education no later than 2015.

As is often the case, the need for accommodation is greater than what can be realistically provided. There are three criteria for each intake:

• Poverty – the family is too poor to consider other options;
• Distance – the family lives too far from the college for their daughter to travel every day;
• Academic potential – each girl is assessed for her potential to succeed at college if she were to be given a place in the house.

The boarding houses are more than just a place to stay! The girls are offered activities and experiences to support and enrich their education, beyond what they learn at school, such as:

• Regular, well-run, daily programme that provides much-needed structure for the girls to succeed in their studies;
• Individual support and attention to their academic progress from the housemother, who liaises closely with the college;
• Educational talks and activities from regular visitors to the house, ranging from environmental awareness, to careers talks, to art sessions or sports; and occasional visits to places of interest, broadening the girls’ very limited experience of travel within their own country.

The first boarding house opened in Asni in 2008. In September 2009 a second house was opened in Talat n’Yacoub (100km from Marrakech), and in September 2010 a third house opened in Ouirgane.

The volunteer programme is based at Dar Asni - the first purpose-built boarding house with the capacity to provide a “home-away-from-home” for 36 girls. Latifa (the house mother) welcomes volunteers to help her in providing pastoral and educational support to the girls. The goal is to enable the girls to reach their potential - whether they choose to return to their villages, to continue with further education, or enter employment.

More information from People and Places - Responsible Volunteering: