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Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.   So please dig deep and donate now.    The information below contains information about the volunteer work I will undertake and some information about Morocco and the orphanage and school I will be working in.    Throughout July and August I intend to undertake voluntary work through the Moroccan Children’s Trust, in Taroudannt; one of Morocco’s most underdeveloped towns. The Moroccan Children’s Trust is a registered charity who works to achieve sustainable development for young people and their communities in Morocco. With the help of this charity, I hope to aid social development through working with and teaching orphans, disabled and street children.  This type of work is critical in providing a better way of life for the most disadvantaged children. Such help does not only allow these children to gain a free and fair education, but is also essential to help integrate these children into society.   Several factors have inspired me to undertake such work. Frequent visits to Morocco (due to my Moroccan background) have allowed me to understand the social problems that existent within the country. I believe that the experience and skills gained from previous voluntary work and my education will be of great benefit to this project. I also believe development within Morocco needs to begin at the grass roots level, and helping the children of Morocco is a great place to start!   The following development indicators demonstrate the lack of development in Morocco and its need for support:  ·         49.3% of the population is illiterate- and the female illiteracy rate in rural areas are estimated to be at 90%; ·         50% of the population is without access to a sustainable water supply; ·         500,000 children have to help support their families; ·         There is significant urban unemployment, as high as 33% among urban youths  ·         Almost 40% of Morocco’s population depends directly on agriculture- and periodic droughts have a severe negative effect on the economy and the health and wellbeing (Source: UN, Morocco National Census, US Government (1999-2004) <a name="_GoBack"></a>    While the advent of cheap flights and the booming tourist industries and luxury hotels of Marrakech and Fes might lead one to assume that Morocco’s problems are in the past; this is not yet the case.   The help of volunteer workers, such as myself, on a social and educational development programs, particularly in the underdeveloped South of the country, is much needed.    The development program in Taroudannt will be beneficial for several reasons. Taroudannt is a town of around 40,000 inhabitants with a long and rich history. Despite this, there are a large number of orphans and deprived youths, who are not sufficiently provided for within the community and urgently require aid. Taroudannt lacks the necessary amenities to coordinate aid and support to the many street children that reside there, which puts a strain on the town’s development.   The Moroccan Children’s Trust in partnership with ‘Groupe Maroc Horizons’ (a well established NGO based in Taroudannt, run volunteer projects and social and)educational development workstreams. Their sustainable approach is what separates them from other organizations, and their projects are culturally sensitive and embedded in the community.   The MCT have several major projects, but the project that I will be participating is the teaching and caring project. Volunteers, such as myself, will spend a few months living in Taroudannt and working to aid social development. The volunteers will get to stay with a host family and volunteer with local institutions such as schools and orphanages.   As stated, I will be teaching at schools and orphanages. Here is some information about these institutions:   The Al Wifaq School The Al-Wifaq school is a local primary school in Taroudannt, catering to many of Taroudannt's 3-12 year olds. There are three activities at the Al-Wifaq: ·         Running activities for pre-school age children ·         Teaching basic IT to disadvantaged 10-12 year olds ·         Offering French or English support classes   The Lalla Amina Orphanage  The Orphanage is home to many children who have lost their parents or been abandoned. Many children are adopted from the orphanage, but many are resident for a long time and need to find a way to make the institution their home. As a volunteer, my time and energy can help improve the standard of living of these children. Activities include:  ·         Caring for, washing, feeding and playing with the twenty or so babies the orphanage caters for at any one time. Many of these children lack the one-on-one interaction necessary for healthy development. ·         Helping the disabled children, bringing fun into their lives ·         Organising activities or extra lessons for school-age orphans  Please help make such a beneficial project take place and donate, any donation no matter how small is welcome!

Ousama's Fundraising Page for MOROCCO 2011!

Ousama's Fundraising Page for MOROCCO 2011!

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