Taking Cross-Cultural Solutions' volunteers on a camel ride to the desert to spend the night in a camp between the sand dunes.
Staff Spotlight: Mohamed Mhmmoudi
Title:
Country President, Morocco for Cross-Cultural SolutionsPhotos
What is your favorite travel memory?
How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?
Working for Cross-Cultural Solutions is a great opportunity to meet up with people from a large variety of countries and cultures.
The experience has taught me that as human beings we have a lot in common and we can live in peace and work together towards a better world for future generations.
What is the best story you've heard from a return student?
A young volunteer told me that volunteering abroad in Morocco allowed her to learn more about herself - her strengths, limitations, knowledge - it changed her in every aspect.
Before joining the program, her parents and some friends discouraged her from going to Morocco because they viewed it as unsafe for a young woman. Once she was here, she realized that it's safer than the city she grew up in and even though some women in Morocco wear the veil (hijab) they are well educated.
While she studied Islam and focused on Muslim women in her studies back home, coming to Morocco and interacting with its people helped her better understand the culture and people, and even corrected some of the misjudgments she had.
If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?
If I get a chance, I would like to go to Ghana or Tanzania. As a Moroccan (North African) the African component of our identity is not stressed!
In general, Moroccans see themselves more as Arabs, Muslims, Mediterraneans... than Africans. Also, I am amazed by the simplicity of life in many African countries.
What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?
It's the balance between satisfying the community's needs and the volunteer's needs. We always assess the impact of our volunteers on the communities we work in and at the same time listen to the feedback of the volunteers.
I am proud of my team when I read volunteer's positive evaluations and/or when our partners in the community ask us for more volunteers.
What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?
I think human resources. It's the warmth of people and their openness to others that make the biggest difference.
Our staff is trained to deal with the different kinds of people we welcome in our program, make sure that they work in a safe environment, and provide them with the support they need to accomplish their mission.