Rabat

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Volunteer Work in Rabat

CCS volunteers in Morocco work side-by-side with local people, contributing directly to community-based projects. In Morocco, the opportunity to exchange cultures and perspectives is one of the most important parts of our volunteers' work.

• Caregiving : Volunteers can care for infants and children, or people with disabilities in Rabat. Because of the large number of street children, one of the most common placements for volunteers is an orphanage that caters to these at-risk youth. Volunteers can also care for children and adults with disabilities by planning recreational activities and serving as a companion.
• Teaching : In Morocco, the national literacy rate remains below 70 percent, and high dropout and repetition rates persist. Volunteers help to encourage a love of learning amongst all age groups. Volunteers can aid teachers in an organization designed specifically for educating street children so that they can be re-integrated into local schools, and have positive role models. Volunteers also assist teachers of special education in an organization that strives to combat the social stigmas that surround disabilities in Morocco.
• Community Development : Volunteers can work toward women’s empowerment by engaging in cultural exchange and helping to teach conversational English to professional women seeking to learn new job skills and increase career prospects. French-speaking volunteers may also have the opportunity to teach other useful subjects to the women, including basic office and computer skills.
• Healthcare : Volunteers can observe and assist healthcare professionals in Rabat at a children’s hospital where they help to care for the children by engaging in play therapy, creating arts & crafts, and reducing the overall anxiety of hospital visits. Volunteers also play an important role for the children’s families by providing moral support and a reassuring presence. Volunteers may be able to help provide physical therapy for people with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities.

Volunteer Abroad, Intern Abroad, and Insight Abroad (one week) programs are available in Rabat. Placements are always designed to match the skills and interests of our participants to the needs identified by the community.

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Cultural & Learning Activities in Rabat

Cultural & Learning Activities in Morocco include Arabic language classes and insightful discussions with speakers on topics such as the history, religion, the economy, and education in Morocco. Speakers will be well-respected community leaders, including local NGO experts. City excursions are also offered and may include guided walks through the historical parts of the city, tours of the Roman Ruins called the Chellah, local art exhibits, and museums.

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Free Time in Rabat

Rabat is the royal capital city of Morocco, known for its emphasis on history, art, and natural beauty. The Royal Palace, Mamora Forest, and Potter's Village are all favorite travel destinations for visitors. You may also want to visit the Kasbah in Rabat, a picturesque area known for the city's oldest mosques and palaces. White sandy beaches spotted with little settlements and affluent resort towns are accessible right outside of this coastal, cosmopolitan city.

If you are interested in traveling to other parts of Morocco during your free time on weekends, transportation within Morocco is both convenient and safe. Travel to the world-renowned cities of Casablanca, Marrakesh, and Fes are easily accessible by train. Hiking treks through four distinct mountain ranges or camel rides through the Sahara desert are also popular with visitors. Many volunteers also travel before or after their program to Spain.

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Home-Base in Rabat

The Home-Base in Morocco is in a safe residential neighborhood in the capital city of Rabat. It is located on a main road in a comfortable neighborhood and is within walking distance of a small shopping center, pharmacy, newsstand, coffee shop, supermarket, and a few internet cafes.

The house has a large open garden with fruit trees and grass. Many of the bedrooms also open up onto terraces, which are ideal for resting after work and to discuss the day's events with our Morocco staff and fellow volunteers.

Meals are provided by local cooks and include typical Moroccan cuisine. Transportation to and from your volunteer placement and any Cultural & Learning Activities is provided by CCS' licensed drivers.

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In-Country Staff in Rabat

Local CCS staff in Morocco will warmly welcome you to the community, make you feel at home and help you better understand Moroccan culture. They help facilitate your volunteer experience and are always available to answer any questions that may arise. CCS staff is always from the region where we operate, so they can provide a local perspective, help you with learning the local language, and guide you in what to do in your free time.

All of our in-country staff members are warm, loving people who want you to feel at home and will make sure you are well cared for. The staff at each CCS program site includes a Country Director or Program Director, program coordinators, drivers, cooks, cleaners, and guards. Because the staff office is typically located at the CCS Home-Base, a helping hand is never far. Learn more about our Morocco staff below.

Country Director: Mohamed Mhmmoudi
Mohamed comes to Cross-Cultural Solutions with extensive experience working with international volunteers after six years of working with Peace Corps Morocco. His responsibilities with the Peace Corps have included providing cross-cultural interpretation, language training, logistical program management, and ensuring the safety and security of volunteers stationed throughout Morocco. Before his role as the Morocco Country Director, Mohamed had been a special guest speaker to CCS volunteers, giving lectures on the cultural history of Morocco and Islam. Mohamed received his degree in Business Management and also taught Commercial and Business Law at a college-level private school for many years. With his diverse and extensive background in international volunteering and management, Mohamed is a tremendous asset to the CCS Morocco team.

House Manager: Khadija Channouf
Khadija is responsible for the house and the house staff and has a great deal of experienced working with volunteers—for 5 years she was a Language and Cultural Facilitator for Peace Corp Morocco and she is an amazing henna tattoo artist.

Program Coordinator: Abdellah Ouhmouch
Abdellah works directly with CCS Partner Programs and can answer any questions or concerns you have about your placement. Abdellah was also a Language and Cultural Facilitator for Peace Corp Morocco and was a translator for many American movies in Morocco, like Spy Game and Rules of Engagement.

Driver: Abdou Hallouch 
Ismael is in charge of all transportation for the volunteers and the Home-Base, including van maintenance, airport pick-ups, and taking volunteers to their placements and cultural and learning activities. He is very much a "father figure"for the volunteers.

Cook: Aicha "Mama Aicha" Hafoud
Mama Aicha is in charge of preparing traditional Moroccan meals for the volunteers and staff and she is a fantastic cook.

Housekeepers: Fatiha Abizi and Leila Bennani
Fatiha and Leila are in charge of all of the housekeeping for the Home-Base. They wash the linens and towels and they are in charge of cleaning the house, including common areas and the bedrooms. Both Fatih and Leila help Mama Aicha in the kitchen. Fatiha often demonstrates many dance steps during the Folklore night presentation and Leila is an excellent cook.

Security: Simohamed "Simo" El ouardi & Hamid Jendane
Simo is in charge of the gate during the day, tends the garden, and serves as an occasional driver when needed. Simo is a great friend to all CCS volunteers in Morocco. Hamid is in charge of security at night and keeps track of who comes and goes from the house. Hamid is also an international basketball referee and a former player on the Moroccan National Basketball Team.