Volunteering abroad is one of the fun experiences that people could enjoy while they are travelling overseas. It let them learn so many interesting things about the host country, its people and its culture. In this article, we are going to shed light on the 7 reasons why you should volunteer in Morocco
1. Meet and interact with Moroccan people.
The best way to visit a country and make sure that you gain insights on the local community is when you join a volunteering program and share your skills and experiences with the people in need. Volunteering work brings together people who are interested in giving back and helping out the society. It provides them with the opportunity to meet locals and interact with them constantly. Volunteers usually participate in some cultural and educational activities and learn more about the customs and traditions of the local society and experience a new lifestyle that is in some extent different from their own. Being surrounded by local people all day long helps the volunteer to better understand the background of the culture and helps her/him to better deal with locals while s/he is traveling around the country or planning to stay longer. It also helps her/him to get responses of many inquiries s/he might would have before visiting the country.
2. Learn more about the Moroccan culture
Understanding the culture would definitely make your journey in the country easier and help you to build a clear picture on how people think and manage their lives. The Moroccan way of doing things is different from the western one in most of life aspects such as art, music, education, food, cloths, holidays and so forth. Morocco is known by its welcoming culture, hospitality, friendly people and cultural diversity. As a volunteer living with a local host family and working with people from different age groups, you would definitely gain insights on what the culture is about. Learning about a culture is not simply something that you can just read or hear rather than something you must experience and try in order to avoid all stereotypes that are running on the internet and be able to build up a strong understanding of what is going on around you.
3. Make new friends and expand your social circle
Are you exciting about the idea of meeting people from all over the world? Are you willing to get to know some interesting people that might be holding same values and mindset such yours?
By joining our program and working with local NGOs, volunteers get the opportunity to make new friendships with other people coming for the same purpose. Volunteers usually share accommodation, meals and work together in the same placement which enable them to learn more not only about local culture but also about other international volunteers’ culture. Many volunteers have come seperately from the same country and met for the first time in our program and have developed a long friendship after their program was over. Social contact is very important in people’s life and makes your travel journey rich of fun, experiences and learning opportunities.
4. Learn some new skills and develop your personal qualities
Volunteering abroad is not only about providing a helping hand to other people or serving the communities in need but also is an opportunity of learning so many things about yourself and your abilities to make a difference. Volunteer work teaches volunteers how to deal with challenges they might encounter and learn how they can communicate effectively with people from all age groups. It also teaches them to respect other’s people opinion which helps them to develop strong understanding of what is happening around them. It also helps them to stay always positive and optimistic and focus primarily on finding a solution to the problems that might arise. Volunteers learn to take initiatives and come up with new and creative ideas while doing activities.
5. Try Moroccan food
Moroccan food is ranking in the top of the world’s best cuisine. Many international people find Moroccan food delicious and recommend it for any one visiting the country. Dishes vary from the north to the south and from a city to another. Every place has its own way of making the same plate with different ingredients and spices. The main typical Moroccan foods are Couscous, Tagine, Tanjia, Pastilla, Rfisa, Harira, Zaalouk…. and there is a special occasion when every plate is served. Living with a local family during your program period, let you taste most of the local homemade dishes and let you also enjoy food in a family ambiance. Moroccans usually share food together and eat from the same plate. It is part of the culture to eat with hands especially the right one instead of using cutleries. Enjoying food with a local family and learning more about how it is made, would be without doubt one of the best experiences that would stick in the volunteer’ mind.
6. Explore the beauty of Morocco
Morocco is the second most visited country in Africa according to the World Tourism Organization (WTO). Many international tourists have made the choice to travel to Morocco for several reasons: The weather is similar to the weather in California, it’s cool all the year round, not very cold in winter and not very hot in summer. The Moroccan nature and landscapes are one of the reasons that attract people to visit the country. The long Atlantic and Mediterranean beaches, the Atlas Mountains, the waterfalls, the parks and the Sahara desert are all available in one country. Tourists can visit and enjoy all these different places in a short span of time. Morocco is also a sport destination of many international surfers looking for good spots of surfing. Morocco is a multicultural society where Berber, Arabic, African cultures are mixed and people express themselves in different languages.
7. Experience the vibrant of the Moroccan cities
The Medina (old town) is a neighborhood that all Moroccan cities have in common. It used to be the place where the first inhabitants have settled and lived before the cities grew and got bigger and bigger over the centuries. The Medina today is considered one of the highlights of each city where the old doors, ramparts, narrow alleys and local architecture are witnessed of the rich history of the country. The Medina is a vibrant place and crowded by people who come to explore it or do shopping because of its variety of Sooks (Local markets). There is a leather market, carpet market, traditional cloths and shoes, traditional handcrafts, souvenirs and food market. People from different places come to experience the atmosphere of the Medina and enjoy their time with their family and friends.
