New Year in Sahara

THEME OR TYPE OF PROJECT :

Spending New Year's Eve in Sahara making pottery and painting.

PROJECT FEES:

220 EUROS.

PROJECT PARTNER:

CSM Local branch in Zagora.

AIMS OF THE PROJECT:

The aim of this cultural project is to offer the participants the opportunity to get to know the Moroccan culture, specially the one from the south of Morocco, the Desert of Sahara, which fascinates everyone who comes to visit it. The participants will have the opportunity not only to visit the Desert as turist, but only to enjoy our culture from our hands an to get immersed into it, participating in the several activities proposed. The main aim of the project is to promote interculturality.

PROJECT’S ACTIVITIES:

They will make a voluntary work and Pottery courses (Painting and gardening work in school  + Learn how to cook some delicious Moroccan food+pottery courses).

COMMUNITY CONTEXT:

The town of Zagora sits at the foot of Anti-Atlas Mountains and on the shore of the Draa Valley in South Eastern Morocco. Zagora’s allure is mainly attributed to the great Draa Valley, which is still a home for several of Morocco’s tribes. The name Zagora is derived from “Tazagort,” a mountain by the shore of Draa Valley overlooking the city.

Zagora gathers a number of minority groups, including numerous Amazigh tribes from Ait Atta clan, and black African groups who emigrated from Sub-Saharan Africa, along with the Caravans. Arabs have also settled in Zagora, coming from Marrakech since the medieval times.

Zagora’s historical monuments and natural features are what enchant foreign guests most. Tourists from major European countries, such as France, Germany and Switzerland, travel to Morocco to explore Zagora. The region still preserves numerous Kasbahs and old fortresses that mark bygone era. In addition, the Sahara desert landscapes of sand dunes and “Hamadas”* is also worth discovering.

The artistic characteristics of Zagora lay in crafts, as well as folklore. Zagora is home of old pottery factories. Clay dishes are exclusively made in Tamegroute, featuring green colored productions and displayed in local and national exhibitions. Reed is also used to make crafts.

Folklore in Zagora reflects the cultural identity of the joint communities. Both Amazighs and Arabs of the area, perform different artistic shows, varying from Ahidous to Regba and Hassani rhythms.

VOLUNTEER’S REQUIREMENTS:

The volunteers are not required to have any previous experience. We are looking for enthusiastic, positive and respectful people, who are willing to work close with people from other nationalities to learn new skills and develop new relationships in ways that they choose and at a pace they feel comfortable with.

VOLUNTEER’S TASKS:

The volunteers do not have any obligatory task, as it's not a normal workcamp. The activities planned are to be organized exclusively for them to enjoy the Moroccan culture and way of living. They are expecte to participate actively in all of them: painting, cooking and making pottery.

HOST SITUATION:

The volunteers will be hosted in a Youth center or in a family house, depending on availability. They will be informed about this two weeks before their arrival.

If they are staying in the youth center, we will cook 3 meals per day and we will make shifts to prepare them. Some days some volunteers will cook and others clean and the other way around. We will all help each other with the different tasks.

MEETING POINT / HOW TO ARRIVE:

Zagora bus station is the ideal meeting point.

You can easily get a “Supratours” bus from any bus station of the country. The easiest way is to fly to Marrakech (as it has many flights connections with major cities around the world) and then take a Supratours bus to Zagora. There are many, almost every hour.

If you fly into any other city of Morocco, you will be able to connect easily but maybe not directly to Zagora.

Once you have your flights details, please pass them to your interlocutor who can help you find the best connection to Zagora.