Community Service in Rabat

After a speedy trip through Morocco, we returned back to Rabat, our host city in Morocco to do some community service projects with Moroccan students. The students are part the Access program run by Amideast. Through the Access program they learn english outside of school until they become fluent in the language. They took their summer free time to spend with the OneWorld Now! students and join us in our community service projects.

Our first community service project was at a local orphanage. Located in the middle of Rabat, it is named after the princess of Morocco. The orphanage is staffed with trained nurses and foreign NGO volunteers. We met some while we were there and a few were from Washing ton. We did art projects and spent a learning day with them in our two day service. We will forever remember this orphanage and the smiles of the beautiful children we spent our days with.



This week I have been so happy doing community service. Going to the orphanage made me cry so much because I wish I could make a different to some kids and take them home with me, especially this one kid I fell in love with. He was so happy when he saw me and sad when I left. Going to the orphanage made me realize more about life and love my family even more, it made me want to get closer to my brother so that was a great experience. We also did some planting which was fun and painting on a wall, which I loved. I have been sad that the days are counted and I am almost leaving because I have gotten so close to my host family and another host family which makes me sad thinking about leaving. I have gotten so adapted to so many different things here and I know going back to New York I will feel wierd at first. I love eating with my hands and tea time is always great so I will miss that so much. Well, so long and can not wait till tomorrow.
-Rebeca

Returning to Rabat after excursion was comforting after living out of backpacks in hotels, but also provided the side effect of wondering how I’d let so much of the trip go by already. It really feels like Morocco is my home now and Seattle is just a memory of a fun vacation. This week was community service week, and the most difficult/rewarding activity was playing with kids at an orphanage. As an American it astounds me that no women here keep children born out of wedlock. Our Moroccan group leader, Naufoul had a discussion with us afterwards about how even places like the orphanage are run in a corporate way in order to make a profit, which really resonated with me, and made me think back to the other orphanage in Azrou. Wondering if it was too was a façade. Other experiences have been more positive this week; shopping at the souk, meeting again with the Moroccan students, studying Arabic, and the dyed chicks my host mother bought for her four year old son. I still feel like we are in the middle of this trip, but its time to start packing and say our goodbyes.
- Inness


At first I was nervous going to an orphanage because I haven’t been to one before. But my experience in the orphanage brought me to a whole different level. When I go back to Seattle, my plan is to visit more. Though the thought of abandoned kids is devastating, the feeling of putting a smile on their faces made a difference for them, as well as me. We also painted this week. It was exciting! I felt like I left my mark. Planting was also fun too! I enjoyed it a lot. We planted plants at a school and also cleaned up. I felt like everything we did this week made a difference somehow and that makes me really proud of myself and others. My favorite part of the week was having group talk session. We have had many laughs of joy! At the same time I felt that everyone was opening up and wants to learn more about each other. When I first came to Morocco, of course my head was full of thoughts and questions from the unusual things I had spotted. But I never asked questions to build knowledge for myself instead of wondering all the time. I am thankful for every single bit of the trip. I learned something new everyday!
-Michelle Moises



Our second community service was located in another part of Rabat. We painted community walls right across from where a busy bus stop was located. We were met with a large blank wall but it was soon transformed. With the help of some local artists, we were able to change a few blank walls into beutiful pieces of art.



Hi. I am having a blast. In this last week I have started to feel like I know my way around. When I go out somewhere I always know where I am going and the once confusing streets and alleys that seemed to have no pattern now make sense. This week we have been doing community service which has included helping in the orphanage, painting murals and planting plants.
-Trevor


Being the first week after excursion and however sad to say, the end of my last full week. I enjoyed the new schedule with community service mornings and Arabic class afternoons and odd-jobs include volunteering at an orphanage, painting a series of murals, planting trees etc. I was most satisfied during my work at the orphanage. It’s inspiring how these children live despite “conditions.” I had two unsurpassable conversations generally regarding cultural differences and misunderstandings. I feel both humbled and enlightened and I only hope to carry these values into my future life. I tried escargot! Hope to make the most of the next clump of days.
-Jim McGowan

Our next project was at a local elementary school where we planted trees, gardened and left a living footprint here in Rabat. The elementary school was a small 8 classroom facility and taught students about four different languages, Arabic, France, English, and Spanish.


Service learning this week has helped me assimilate me into the community of Rabat. Working in the orphanage on Sunday and Monday was one of the hardest things I have done, but it was an emotionally rewarding experience. Talking about abandoned children with the group really opened my eyes to a problem which I never knew was even a big issue before. As well as working in the orphanage this week, we have beautified a public wall by painting on it, and rejuvenated an old grown-over garden. I know that the last few days of this trip will be bittersweet because I am leaving so many good friends I have made here and going home to friends and family I have missed so much in Seattle.
-Amy


These past days have been very interesting for me. I feel as if I am in a dream world, where Morocco is my home and Seattle is the vacation area I have visited in the past. Being in Morocco has helped me have a better understanding of everything. I seriously feel like a new person, much wiser and very appreciative. One of the community service activities that we did was planting, it was very interesting at first when we were told that all we had to do was put the plant in the hole they had dug for us, which seemed quite silly. Once we got there it was totally different, we did some intense gardening. It was wierd how I enjoyed it, I was hot, sweaty, tired and dirty yet it was very entertaining for me. After we got done gardening a few of us played basketball, which I thought was very hilarious; I remember just running/jumping around with my beaten down leather sandals that somehow became a size larger just playing a really intense game. Overall, I would not change anything whether or not it is the silliness of clothing, the texture of our feet, or the awkwardness of being a foreigner. It has been amazingly enjoyable.
-Sundus


Our last stop was at the local community center where we learned to play chess from a National Chess champion and other assorted activities like Ping Pong and cards. Then there was a demonstration by a local seamstress of how they made traditional Moroccan designs. The community center also served as a seamstress school, where students can train to create the beautiful designs and create an income. After a filling meal of Chicken Couscous, we all got together and danced! What a ending to an amazing week.



It is almost time to say goodbye to Morocco, but I feel like I just said hello. In the beginning it was a huge adjustment I had to make for myself living here in Morocco. Overall this experience has opened up my mind to a new world. I have met some of the coolest people on this trip that have taught me so much about life. Being surrounded by a country of friendly people was great. If it was not a warm greeting they invited you into their home for tea or a meal. I hope to one day be able to come back to Morocco on my own and find out more about the country. I can not say thank you enough to my host family for their hospitality and warm hearts, and all of the tour guides on exursion.
-Lacresha