Peace Corps Country Overview for Morocco
Official Peace Corps Information on Programs in Morocco
Peace Corps Country Overview for Morocco
Peace Corps Country Overview for Morocco
Peace Corps Volunteers have supported many significant contributions in the quality of life in Morocco over the last 36 years, but the country continues to face a number of pressing development challenges. The maternal mortality rate is exceptionally high in rural areas. There is a high rate of unemployment, particularly among youth. Population growth has contributed to the drainage of wetlands, de-forestation of public areas, and erosion in national park reserves. To help address these problems, Volunteers are assigned to projects in education, environment, health and small business development.
Education
Volunteers assigned to youth centers are encouraging local youth to become more involved in their communities through targeted activities, which build leadership skills and community awareness. Goals of the Youth Development program are to:
1. Strenghten networks between local partners working with you;
2. Increase the capacity build local professionals working with youth;
3. Promote volunteerism among local youth to take a more active role in their communities;
4. Encourage youth, especially to understand and practice culturally-appropriate life skills
The initial contact with youth is made through content-based English instruction at the youth center which is then the conduit for the implementation of outside activities. These activities may include organizing environmental clubs, planting trees, community clean-ups, latrine building, sports teams, girls'education activities, youth mentoring, teaching computer skills, or teaching basic literacy to adults.
Environment
Volunteers in the environment Sector are assigned to work with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural development and the Ministry in charge of Water and Forests. They work with their Moroccan counterparts to (1) to assist in implementing formal and informal environmental education activities in rural community development. (2) To promote sustainable natural resources conservation and management practices, preserve biodiversity, and to combat desertification through the promotion, capacity building, and implementation of agroforestry, soil conservation and reforestation. (3) To reduce the environmental impacts of rural through the introduction of appropriate technologies for income generation.
Health
Volunteers work in rural Moroccan communities (1) to improve maternal and child health care, (2) increase safe water supplies and, (3) promote hygiene and sanitation practices. Hygiene education is a major component of their activities. Volunteers have participated in the implementation of the national campaigns (vaccination, family planning, diarrhea, trachoma), designed and produced safe birth kits, trained first level nurses and traditional birth attendants in communication and patient counseling, developed hygiene awareness campaigns, constructed water supply systems and sanitation facilities for primary schools. Efforts in pit latrine construction, water sources improvement and other community based projects have produced considerable results, including skill transfer to local leaders in project design, management and funding.
Small Business Development
Volunteers work as small business advisors to support structured small business activity in the Moroccan artisan sector. With their counterparts at the Secretary of State in charge of Social Economy, Small and Medium Enterprises and Artisans, they provide training and consulting to artisan communities throughout the country. The areas covered are export, marketing, basic accounting and taxation, information technology and internet. Also, volunteers carry out feasibility studies and business plans for new project.
Key Links
Peace Corps
Information on the Peace Corps around the world.
U.S. Embassy in Morocco - Social Development
A collection of texts and links especially dedicated to sustainable development in Morocco.
