Help : Kafala Orphanage in Morocco
Donation protected
I am sixteen years old, and this summer, I volunteered at the Rita Zniber Foundation orphanage in Morocco. Founded in the unused wings of a hospital in Meknes, and dedicated to its cause for over 25 years, the orphanage has supported nearly 2000 children that were abandonded at birth, with around 350 children right now.
(Part of the orphanage occupies a small wing on the 5th floor of this hospital)
Babies abandoned at birth live and stay in the hospital "Mohamed V" until they become six years old, and the ones with more severe disabilities stay even longer so they can be properly taken care of.
In the two weeks that I volunteered, I mostly worked with nurses taking care of babies with physical and mental disabilities. Feeding them, playing with them, putting them to sleep, and just spending time with them, we quickly grew attached to each other.
These are just a few of the babies I took care of:
This is Omar. He had fallen desperately ill when he was with his mother, and she abandonded him at the hospital when he was just three weeks old. He started feeling better after a few weeks.
This is Salim. Abandoned in the hospital at birth, he is now one years old and just recently learned how to walk.
This is Nidal. He is an exception because his mother visits him often, but he is allowed to stay at the orphanage because he is diagnosed with autism, and she cannot financially support his needs.
Nidal spent countless hours quietly staring and mesmerized by the patterns in videos of kaleidoscopes on the phone.
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Once the toddlers turn 6, they are moved to a new location which owned by the foundation, where they remain (unless they are adopted) until the age of 24 (or once they secure a job).
This is when they begin to go to school, do sports and other extracurriculars, and sometimes even take trips to the beach. Most parents adopt girls which has resulted in hundreds of boys, and very few girls living at the orphanage.
Out of the 1963 children that grew up there, only 1262 were adopted, and 129 taken back by biological parents. Still leaving this small organization the responsibility to take care of hundreds of children.
Due to lack of funding and appropriate recources, over 260 children living in the orphanage have died since 1992.
While I was volunteering at the orphanage, I grew concious of my privilage, and everything that I have taken for granted throughout my life : Good schools, a loving family, nutritious food, clean water, access to medicine, and much more. I realized how much our lives depend on the family we are born into, and the inhumanity of the injustices that affect innocent orphaned children.
When I left the orphanage after two weeks, I was heavily disheartened by the fact that these kids might never get the love and resources they need to achieve their full potential. Which is why I stayed in contact with the Rita Zniber Foundation and received their approval to raise money in order bring about a better life, with better opportunities for success for every child at the Kafala orphanage.
Since the foundation is not American, I am unable to setup a direct transfer of funds from donators to the organization. All funds donated here will be sent to me, and then directly to the foundation, and will be spent on:
Medicine
Clothes
Food
Diapers
Powder Milk
School Supplies (Backpacks, Pencils, Books, Desks, etc)
Beds
Incubators (for babies)
Wages for more staff.
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Remember to share this page !
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For more information and the foundation's website :
http://www.fondationritazniber.org/en/
Or if you have any questions, send me an email at :
[email redacted]
More pictures :
----------------------I did not take all of the pictures used, and more can be found on the website ----------------------
(Part of the orphanage occupies a small wing on the 5th floor of this hospital)Babies abandoned at birth live and stay in the hospital "Mohamed V" until they become six years old, and the ones with more severe disabilities stay even longer so they can be properly taken care of.
In the two weeks that I volunteered, I mostly worked with nurses taking care of babies with physical and mental disabilities. Feeding them, playing with them, putting them to sleep, and just spending time with them, we quickly grew attached to each other.
These are just a few of the babies I took care of:
This is Omar. He had fallen desperately ill when he was with his mother, and she abandonded him at the hospital when he was just three weeks old. He started feeling better after a few weeks.This is Salim. Abandoned in the hospital at birth, he is now one years old and just recently learned how to walk. This is Nidal. He is an exception because his mother visits him often, but he is allowed to stay at the orphanage because he is diagnosed with autism, and she cannot financially support his needs.Nidal spent countless hours quietly staring and mesmerized by the patterns in videos of kaleidoscopes on the phone.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Once the toddlers turn 6, they are moved to a new location which owned by the foundation, where they remain (unless they are adopted) until the age of 24 (or once they secure a job).
This is when they begin to go to school, do sports and other extracurriculars, and sometimes even take trips to the beach. Most parents adopt girls which has resulted in hundreds of boys, and very few girls living at the orphanage.
Out of the 1963 children that grew up there, only 1262 were adopted, and 129 taken back by biological parents. Still leaving this small organization the responsibility to take care of hundreds of children.
Due to lack of funding and appropriate recources, over 260 children living in the orphanage have died since 1992.
While I was volunteering at the orphanage, I grew concious of my privilage, and everything that I have taken for granted throughout my life : Good schools, a loving family, nutritious food, clean water, access to medicine, and much more. I realized how much our lives depend on the family we are born into, and the inhumanity of the injustices that affect innocent orphaned children.
When I left the orphanage after two weeks, I was heavily disheartened by the fact that these kids might never get the love and resources they need to achieve their full potential. Which is why I stayed in contact with the Rita Zniber Foundation and received their approval to raise money in order bring about a better life, with better opportunities for success for every child at the Kafala orphanage.
Since the foundation is not American, I am unable to setup a direct transfer of funds from donators to the organization. All funds donated here will be sent to me, and then directly to the foundation, and will be spent on:
Medicine
Clothes
Food
Diapers
Powder Milk
School Supplies (Backpacks, Pencils, Books, Desks, etc)
Beds
Incubators (for babies)
Wages for more staff.
---------------------------------------------------------------
Remember to share this page !
---------------------------------------------------------------
For more information and the foundation's website :
http://www.fondationritazniber.org/en/
Or if you have any questions, send me an email at :
[email redacted]
More pictures :
----------------------I did not take all of the pictures used, and more can be found on the website ----------------------
Organizer and beneficiary
Enzo Parasher
Organizer
Los Angeles, CA
yassmine laraki
Beneficiary
