Cross-Cultural Solutions: Volunteer Abroad in Morocco

I learn more French in this trip, And learn to hear all people and the diferent idioms to identified. Make té is the wounderfull experience. Know more about a Romains culture in the Arabic territories was excellent. The kids dancing song of the all word I never forget. People making a different souvenirs. The flavors of the food was great. The mountains and the different weather. The pictures of the sand was mistery. All people are good all want to know more about the different countries

It was an amazing experience. I enjoyed the exposure to a new culture, that was further intensified by the timing of the experience. My trip happened to fall during Ramadan. i was able to see the intricacies of the holiday's effects on people's lives. I witnessed a mix of culture, religion, and, of course, a bit of sightseeing in the process. The volunteering experience was equally rewarding. I fell in love with those adorable children at the orphanage. I did not want to leave them. Everything I saw from the trips to the everyday life as I walk through each city created great memories and expanded my worldview.

I just returned from volunteering 3 weeks with CCS in Morocco. I am a very well-traveled individual with more than 80 countries that have been checked off of my list, which I have been fortunate enough to visit. I do not put much faith in the media, and their ability to report fairly and accurately the situations that are happening abroad in each individual country, as I find them always to be extremely embellished and happening in a very localized area and not in the countries as a whole. But even I was hesitant to travel to Morocco with the bombardment of information from the media and internet regarding Africa and in particular, Northern Africa. As always, I am so thankful and happy I dismissed all information and traveled to Morocco, as I wanted to rely more on my personal experience and gathering of information from Morocco itself! Morocco was nothing like I expected, I must say. The people of Morocco are very giving, loving and most of all, appreciative! The country itself is beautiful in every way and the Sahara, it is absolutely breathtaking and a trip that should be on everyone's bucket list. I was so pleased that Mohamed went out of his way to put together a trip-of-a-lifetime to the Sahara. Honestly, 3 weeks was not enough to see and experience everything Morocco has to offer. And safety, well, we did have a 24-hour security guard, though I'm not sure it was even needed, as I never felt safer in a foreign country. Mohamed and the staff are completely dedicated to your security and ensuring that you get the most out of your experience in Morocco with CCS in every way. The home base is in Rabat, the capital; however, it is so quiet, you would never know you are in a capital city and the neighborhood in particular is a part of the Diplomatic area. You can walk to practically any kind of business you can imagine that would be catering to every foreign Diplomat and their families. Definitely not Third World.
And most importantly, the placements are incredibly rewarding and are so much more than I expected. I even had a request while I was there to be able to experience a couple of placements and Mohamed made sure that happened. As I had never taught before, I felt very unprepared to teach an advanced ESL class to adults. As suggested, I was glad I had done quite a bit of research beforehand and looked for teaching tools; however, I wish I had done so much more and brought more teaching materials with me. The only negative I can point to is the home base lacks resources, in particular for my placement, to equip you properly; however, as does everything, with some effort on your part, it works out! The people of Morocco are so appreciative for the work you are doing. I definitely came away feeling that what I gained from my placement was far greater than what I felt I contributed. Morocco and the CCS staff far exceeded my expectations! Mohamed and his staff at the CCS home base in Morocco make sure you gain knowledge about the language, people and culture of Morocco; however, it is like anything, it is up to you to put forth the effort and use the knowledge you are given. For anyone with a serving heart or just curious about volunteering overseas for the first time, CCS meets you at the level you are at and takes your hand through every part of the process! I would have to say this probably is one of the most meaningful experiences I have had in my travel and mission work overseas. CCS is the “real deal” of overseas volunteering, as far as immersing you in culture and allowing you to choose your placement and grow in your placement as a volunteer. Would I go back? I am counting the minutes already!
“Travel is the only thing that you can buy that makes you richer”

A typical day in Morocco included morning volunteer sessions, afternoon cultural lessons, and evening free time and exploring. It was a perfect balance of submersion into culture and travel experience. Not only are you able to enjoy the country and all it has to offer, you are able to make a positive impact on it by offering your time to the areas in need.

CCS Morocco Program: The CCS Morocco team was committed to making sure we experienced three program components each day: volunteerism, cultural emersion and vacation free time. Each and every day was filled with these three components. I volunteered during the first part of the day and then participated in the CCS cultural emersion sessions where we learned the history and cultural of Morocco, Arabic, and how to cook Moroccan food. We also went sightseeing and were fortunate to have as our guide a CCS Program Director who was a subject matter expert in history - what a unique experience!

Volunteer Assignments: The CCS Morocco team has estabished relationships with a number of organizations serving children, women, youth and others in need of help. Based on your interests and skills you are assigned to play an impactful, hands-on role serving those in need. I, along with several other volunteers, operated the children's activity center at the Children's Hospital in Rabat. I played games, led arts and crafts, and gave/received lots of hugs and kisses each day with patients and their siblings. I also had the opportunity to spend time with the Moms and Dads of several of the young patients, providing a little relief and distraction for them. I also spent 4 days teaching English at the Women's Center. I was so inspired by all of my students and their desire to learn.

Vacation Time: I was able to travel to Casablanca, Marrakesh, Merzouga where I rode a camel and slept out in the desert.

CCS Morocco Staff: The staff was incredibly professional and friendly. I felt very relaxed the entire time and was constantly learning something new and exciting.Other Volunteers: A diverse group of volunteers - college students, families, seniors, professionals, etc. It was great to meet and work with them! An experience of a lifetime!

it was my first venture into international volunteering and I chose the CCS programme as it combined volunteering and the cultural immersion i was looking for as i was fascinated with Morocco after a brief visit as a tourist previously. CCS programme is well established and the pre-programme online prep sessions and support was invaluable. The homebase and staff in Rabat are wonderful and take great care of every detail; it always felt safe and secure. I had the opportunity to experience several different volunteer placements during my 11-week (+2 week Eid break) time that was really good insight into the reality of life in Morocco. Free time during weekends were opportunities to visit the rest of this beautiful country and exploring the varied landscapes and history of al Maghreb.

I was working mornings at Feminine Pleuriel. I was concentrating on English conversation. I was showing small pictures of various businesses/venues. The view of a stadium with a boy kicking a soccer ball was being discussed. I asked at what age is "football" taught in Morocco. A lady, probably in her late forties or so, stands up and pantomimes being pregnant and points to her "fetus"! Not only were we all laughing hysterically, it had to be one of the funniest moments ever for me! :)

Wonderful opportunity to push my own envelope of experiences! The CCS home base in Rabat was an experience in and of itself. Truly warm and welcoming staff and program managers. The age range and nationalities of the volunteers in the program was wonderfully diverse and provided many 'down time' opportunities for establishing new friendships among the volunteers.

My assignment for the two weeks was teaching English to adults at a local foundation. Lots of preparation each day for the class as it seemed to attract new students all the time, but I had plenty of support from the program manager when needed . I so enjoyed my students -we even met on the one day a week that the facility was closed -- sitting outside having a informal discussions in some French, some English, some Arabic while we poured over maps of the US and magazines I had brought.

The food was so fresh and so beautifully presented by our CCS home base cooks and they opened the kitchen to us to teach us how to make several of the special dishes and pastries.

Because of the orientation to the country and culture while at the program, I felt well prepared to journey across the country via Marrakesh by myself to spend my last few days in Morocco in the beautiful coastal town of Essaouira!