Since its inceptionin 2001,MoroccoCulturesassociation hasprovidedthe Region of Rabatof a prestigiousthematicfestivalwitha universal conceptandcarryingvalues​​MAWAZINE-RHYTHMSOF THE WORLD. The choice of thisthemeisan obvious one, rhythms constituting awindow on the world, the identity of thecountry, bringing the conceptsof land,originsand authenticity. TheMawazineFestival istherefore part ofan openingofthe world's culturesapproach, offering the publica musical journeyaroundthe world. Variety ofsounds and rhythmsare the watch words of this event, in some editions become oneof the biggest festivalsin the world. It isheld fromMay 18 to 26this year. Held annually in May, Mawazine enablesthe publicto meetartists andmulticulturalforms ofexpression.Withmore than 2million people, 20 million viewers, a 9 day festival, 10stages(InternationalTheme, Eastern, Moroccan, youngmusic ...) spread across thecity,more than 100 shows, 50 countries represented,Mawazineis anopening to the worldbringing artists, exhibitions and exceptionalperformances(original creations, master classes, circus ...) for freemajority. Among the international musical figures that performed in the festival are: BB King, Elton John, Sting, Shakira, Santana, Julio Iglesias and others. This year does not lack figures. This year’s edition includes Rihana, Mika, Deep Purple, George Benson and PSY. Remember it’s from the 24^th May until the 1^st of June. Rabat welcomes you to enjoy music and other artistic patterns.

“Smile you are in Morocco” is a project, handbook, that the students of our partner association, AMALI, with the help and monitoring of our volunteers: Daniel Leung and Wendy Keswick. The handbook included general information about geography, weather, transport, food and culture. I’ll share a copy on facebook for people who are interested.

Hello dear readers,

I chose to share with you what our teaching volunteers says about his overal experience teaching with Projects Abroad Morocco.

Learning languages is one of the hard things to do and some are harder than others to be learnt. Arabic included is one of the hard languages to learn. Our languages programme offers our volunteers a chance to have a personal teacher and an extensive day to day practice of the language Arabic or French. Our host families are Arabic speaking families and most of them master French, also our volunteers can practice the language furthermore with vendors and people whom they meet. I quote one of our volunteers to end up with “By living in this francophone country, I was able to share my first-hand experience with the culture.”   

ARDES is a Moroccan non-governmental organization working for underprivileged populations in urban and rural northern Morocco. ARDES was launched in 1998. The aim of the association is to promote solidarity, and to encourage and support integrated development, among the marginalized populations. ARDES stands for l’Association Régionale du Développement Economiqueet Social that can be translated as the Regional Association for Economic and Social Development. It aims to improve socio-economic and educational conditions for both rural and urban women, foster development through practical training leading to a qualification and promote working in partnership with local community associations. The school is state funded and the teachers are paid by the state.

March is around the corner and we are awaiting our Appleby college group for the third time. We first had Appleby college group back in 2011, and a second time in 2012. We offer the group, during their spring break, a variety of things to do besides learning the Arabic language. The first year we made a garden at one of our placements namely: AMESIP. The second year we built a drama stage and paved the surrounding of another placement, Nahdat El Hay. This year as usual we'll be working on renovating a school in the suburbs of Rabat. The programme also includes a weekend trip, dinning out and going to the Hamam, public baths, and too much fun that pushes the work forward. For the hope of having our beloved group for a fourth time next year we are all looking forwards to spending unforgettable moment. I also would like to share with you readers photos of the former groups.

  2011 garden in AMESIP. 

Morocco. From the disorientating business of its medinas to the majestic serenity of the Saharan dunes, this is a truly fascinating country. Based in the nation’s capital, Rabat, I recently completed a seven week human rights internship through Projects Abroad. I was placed with a local organisation, L’EspaceAssociatif, which works in conjunction with other organisations to strengthen democracy in Morocco. While I was there I had the opportunity to work on a wide variety of projects, including work with the World Bank and the United Nations’ Beyond 2015 Development Framework. I was also able to attend numerous press conferences and seminars concerning human rights and democracy in Morocco. It was both a rewarding and, at times, very challenging experience. At times it was difficult to comprehend a country and political system that was so different to the one in Australia. However, the staff at L’EspaceAssociatif were welcoming, kindand interesting people. There was always a lot of laughter at the delicious daily lunches and I learnt a lot simply from talking to them about Morocco and its human rights situation.

Work was not the only place I was warmly welcomed. Staying with a host family in the Rabat medina was a fantastic experience. Living with a family gave me the opportunity to more deeply understand everyday life in Morocco and to become immersed in the culture. At the beginning of my seven weeks I was sure I would always be constantly lost in the winding alleyways and bustling souks of the medina. However, after a while I was able to navigate my way with ease and greeting certain shopkeepers and café owners became part of my daily routine. The weekly get-together with the other volunteers and the Projects Abroad staff was also a highlight. Whether we were being treated to delicious Moroccan delicacies by one of the host families or playing pool at the local billiards club, the get-togethers were always a lot of fun. The Projects Abroad staff were also very supportive and ensured that everyone was able to make the most out of their time in Morocco.

Exploring the incredibly varied and incredibly beautiful cities and sights of Morocco on the weekends with the other volunteers was a great experience. From the picturesque blue medina of Chefchaouen, the theatricality of Marrakesh and the awe-inspiring beauty of the Sahara desert, Morocco never failed to disappoint. My experience in Morocco was vivid and rich. It was challenging and forced me to learn a lot about both the country and myself. It is a fascinating country and one that I hope to return to someday. Inshallah.

Volunteering in Rabat Morocco is not just hard working. Though our purpose is to help our local community, our city offers a wide range of cultural advantages. For instance, the old Medina of Rabat with its narrow streets and Jewish quarter overlooking the, Bouregrag, River where we place our volunteers. Also, a large number of sites are recognized by international organizations as international heritage such as the United Nations and that includes Hassan tour and Challa place. Moreover, there are other neighbors that are worth visiting and exploring such as the, Centre Ville, with its large streets and Moorish architecture. For more information about the city, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabat.

The weekend is around the corner and some of the plans already are made between our volunteers, some are staying in Rabat while others are traveling to nearby cities. It was a rainy week and roads are a bit still wet therefore best places to spend the weekend are the safer and hence those reached by Train such as: Fes, Mekness, Casablanca, Marakech and others. I wish our volunteers a happy and safe weekend and looking forwards to our get together so we can hear about their adventures. 

Aid El Mawlid or Aid El Mawlid E'Charif is a religious holiday that is celebrated in most of the Muslim countries and all Muslim families, to honor the Islam prophets' birth. It's believed that the prophet was born on the 12^th of "Rabai Al Awal" the 3^rd month of the Muslims' calendar. In Morocco the festivities take different shapes from a region to another and the end stays the same; to have good family time. Thus, it's considered as a family gathering. Most of companies and offices close for two days; our offices will be closed on Thursday. Jolly Aid El Mawlid to all Muslims and Moroccans and on the behalf of Projects Abroad Morocco I wish our volunteers a full enjoyment of a rich cultural loaded event.