Morocco Kids
Let us pave the way towards a bright future for the kids– Al Hoceima –
Launching the MOROCCO KIDS PROJECT
The Morocco Kids Project started with a pilot project in Morocco to establish a community of children, growing up in Morocco.
Proper preparation
In 2017 Malika travelled through Morocco and its more remote areas and witnessed the needs of schools and children in these remote areas, in deserts and mountains. Via social media she contacted a teacher who made an effort to be a personal rolemodel for other teachers and undertook (and undertakes) a lot of initiatives for the safe development of children in remote areas. These efforts did not keep unnoticed and the teacher was awarded a badge of honour by the King of Morocco.
In the summer of 2018 Malika had prepared for setting the stage for the start of the project in Morocco. She travelled to Morocco with a small team to attain the support of local NGO’s and the administrative support of the Ministry of Education in Morocco. Because both are crucial. Through presentations for groups of representatives of NGO’s as well as meetings with the Ministry of Education’s civil servants, they succeeded to lay a basic foundation for the formal organisation and implementation of the project.
In November 2018 the foundation THE MOROCCO KIDS was founded. In spring 2019 the foundation launched and implemented its first actual project. We asked the local teacher in Morocco to be our first Moroccan ambassador for the foundation, as we prepared to start our project in spring 2019, in the presence of the minister of Education.
In the summer of 2018 Malika had prepared for setting the stage for the start of the project in Morocco. She travelled to Morocco with a small team to attain the support of local NGO’s and the administrative support of the Ministry of Education in Morocco. Because both are crucial. Through presentations for groups of representatives of NGO’s as well as meetings with the Ministry of Education’s civil servants, they succeeded to lay a basic foundation for the formal organisation and implementation of the project.
In November 2018 the foundation THE MOROCCO KIDS was founded. In spring 2019 the foundation launched and implemented its first actual project. We asked the local teacher in Morocco to be our first Moroccan ambassador for the foundation, as we prepared to start our project in spring 2019, in the presence of the minister of Education.
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School programme in Morocco
The Foundation brings the pilot project as a present to the children.
3 month school programme Pilot March – July 2019
Some thirty children and their teachers participated. It has been agreed that the pilot will be part of the school programme for a total of three months, in the period from March until the end of the schoolyear in July. The lessons and exercises will have less intensity in Ramadan period.
We expected it to roar with enthusiasm, as we had witnessed before in first smaller tests last summer.
The programme
The way the project is designed for children ensures that children will be able to creatively express their dreams and expectations, and start working from there. In Moroccan educational system is organized in a very classical way. On some occasions this is the first time – in the classroom context – that children may freely draw a picture of their hopes and dreams. No need to explain that our project ignites enormous creativity with children and also inspires (some) teachers to participate.
The team
It is not an everyday opportunity, to be welcomed to show another way to inspire children, in close observation of the Ministry of Education. Since we are 100% responsible for the quality of the programme and the results children can achieve in our program, the team will consist of Malika and the team of people she put together, both local and from The Netherlands, to direct the project.
In the development phase we manage and direct the project personally.
Role of the teacher
The schools let Malika personally share her method with the children. Her small team will guide the local volunteers and elaborate on the project’s principles, content and implementation with the school’s teachers.
The foundation helps teachers adopt ways to learn how to use tools to guide children in the process.
We show it in the classroom when we work with children, we will train trainers in the principles, if they so please. Teachers will be able to learn more on the application of exercises, receive guidance to create a safe environment in their classroom.
Teachers can learn to apply simple methods to involve children in recurring ritual moments in which they can reflect on themselves and others. The more they can witness and absorb the better it will turn out for the children placed in their trust.
Development of course materials
In the pilot phase we started to develop the first basic course materials. At low costs we created the materials we will use in the course with the children. We are aware that we may have to change exercises, re-write materials to the point we notice children really grasp the content and have an flexible attitude, curious to learn what works best for children in the given context.
We foresee that part of the course acceptance and support by parents, care givers and teachers, will consist of information on the background of the programme, the contents and tips that help inspire caregivers to lend the children a helping hand.
- Information for parents and caregivers
- Background information on the goals of the programme and lesson sheets for teachers
- Lesson sheets for the exercises and reflections, beautifully designed for the children
Partners in Morocco
The Morocco Kids Project is implemented in partnership with the help of some Moroccan NGO’s, based in Morocco. The genuine involvement of these NGO’s, the Ministry of Education and National and International Institutions is an important asset.
The pilot project received good press in Morocco, since initiatives that can also reach children in the remote areas of Morocco are especially welcomed.
Rolemodels
In the project we stress the importance of role models. Role models that support us, should participate personally, just like the children are asked to. We ask them to provide a workshop for the children in which children can experience a difference in mindset and outcome. They personally design an exercise/experience for kids from their personal experience and expertise and make it the best practical example for kids, so much that children can apply what they have learned in the experience.
In the workshops that rolemodel personalities design themselves to share with kids, they can share their personal outlook on personal development with children; what they have learned in life; on how to express yourself, grasp opportunities and step-by-step develop a talent to be the foundation for a tangible reality. Inspire kids towards a purposeful life they love to get up for each day.
Tremendous help from local NGOs in Morocco
