LRGS Volunteering - Morocco 2023 - Outlook Exp.

Hi there, my name is James Hambleton; in 2023 I will participate in a volunteering project to assist children in Morocco on my own journey to becoming a Global Citizen.

 

A Global Citizen is aware of and understands the wider world - and their place in it. They take an active role in their community and work with others to make our planet more equal, fair and sustainable.

 

I will be giving my time to help in the following projects and locations:

 

THE OLIVE OIL CO-OPERATIVE: I will be based in the Azilal Province of Morocco in the rural commune of Tagleft supporting the community with the production of olive oil- creating a sustainable income for local people. I will learn about the process from

planting to production - working alongside skilled local tradespeople along

the way. The initiative has been set up to bring in more tourists and income

into the area and to benefit the women who run the co-operative.

JARJEER MULE SANCTUARY: This project is located just outside of Marrakech. During my visit, I will learn about the important role of a working animal and what the sanctuary is doing to ensure future generations of these animals are cared for throughout their lives. They will provide some useful insights following my recent trek and experience of being around working animals.

GOULMIMA PROJECT: Moroccan schools are notoriously underfunded and overcrowded. To help tackle this, the Al Jisr Association for Educational Communication and Cooperation set up a project to work with schools around the village of Goulmima. The project is managed by a local teacher who is passionate about education and improving the students’ working conditions.

I will be helping with construction work to make improvements to the facilities in the local schools. This will include classroom maintenance, resurfacing sports pitches and renovating the gardens.

AVON ACADEMY: Avon Academy is a charity school founded in 2008 on the edge of the Sahara Desert. The main aims of the project are to improve local schools and students’ knowledge of languages; mainly English but also Arabic, French and Berber.

The project also hopes to encourage cross-cultural understanding amongst youth groups worldwide. My project work will include construction and maintenance, with a focus on improving the school's facilities.

 

There will also be plenty of opportunities to interact with the children and get a real sense of the lives of the local people.

To raise this money I will be partaking in and completing many fundraising activities, the first one being a variation of the 3 Peaks Challenge from the 2nd to the 4th of April 2022. This consists of climbing, from the bottom to the peak of the highest mountain in Scotland: Ben Nevis (1345m), then in England: Scafell Pike (978m), then finally in Wales: Snowdon (1085m), all of these peaks are to be climbed in 3 days.

Sometime before my travels, I will be raising money by hosting a fundraising car wash.

I will also be working part-time as a paper boy for a local newsagent, using the money I earn to help fund the expedition.

All money that is given over my £2000 goal will be split equally between two charities that are close to my heart: PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide and St John's Hospice.