Project Topic:
Maintenance of the Roman ruins of Chellah, Rabat
Partnership Agreement:
This project is the fruit of a partnership between CSM, the Ministry of Education and The Ministry of Youth and Sport.
Relevance of the project:
The Chellah ruins are listed as UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2012 and are one of the main archaeological attractions of Morocco. The need of continuous maintenance is huge and we personally consider it a duty to keep it clean and in a good state. The participating volunteers will have the honour to help achieving this task and the opportunity to learn a lot about the culture(s) of this place, which is tightly link with the general history of the Maghreb area.
More info about the Project :
Chellah is a UNESCO World Heritage site, meaning its importance extend beyond the history of Morocco, and as the Ministry of Culture and Ministry of Youth and Sports share our belief that it can serve both the place and young people from abroad to develop an archaeological project around the ruins we reached an agreement to make it happen. The roman ruins are well conserved but as any ruins, hands are always needed, this is why we offer the opportunity to young volunteers to come and get to know this precious ancient heritage and at the same time help with its conservation.
One part of the volunteers’ job will be to assist the staff in charge of Chellah’s maintenance with their routine tasks such as cleaning grounds, emptying trash, cleaning and preparing the site for visitors, sweeping and blowing walk paths, pruning and watering plants, and sometimes painting spaces if needed and allowed.
A second part will be to assist in preserving, inventorying and monitoring natural and cultural resources of the Ruins (plants, animal and archaeological sites).
Apart from that, the volunteers can involve in many other activities as they will be in contact with local people and will be able to get to know Moroccan habits and way of life. There will be a camp leader in charge of the general organization and responsibility of the work camp; this person will have the liberty to prepare/propose animations to the participants, such as the visit of any place of interest in the surrounding area or cultural/sportive activities. Of course the volunteers can also take all kind of initiative on their spare-time and propose activities to the group.
Main Context of the Activity :
This work camp is designed to gather national volunteers as well as international ones to lay the emphasis on intercultural exchange through practical and social involvement on both parts. The possibility to befriend and develop ties with the national volunteer will enable the foreigners to get involved in the community not only in the frame of the project but also outside of their working hours.
Rabat is the capital and fourth largest city of Morocco with an average population of 580,000 people. It combines both Mediterranean and Oceanic influences on many aspects. Rabat’s climate is mild and temperate, with cool winters and warm summer days. The city is quite dynamic as far as cultural activity is concerned thanks to many structures (Theater Mohammed V right in the city center, Cinema Renaissance, official galleries and the archaeological museum) and active associative work.
Volunteers Requirements:
• No previous working experience required.
• Enthusiastic, positive and respectful people needed.
• Willingness to develop ties with other nationalities and learn new things, of course we encourage everyone to follow the pace they feel comfortable with.
Volunteers Duties:
• Five days of work per week and two days off, not necessarily on week ends depending on the work schedule.
• 4 hours of work per day in the morning or in the afternoon.
• Cleaning the medieval fortified necropolis as a part of its maintenance.
• Gardening activities (cutting leaves of trees, watering, etc.)
(Basic tools for the realization activities mentioned above will be provided)
• Cooking in teams with other volunteers, both national and international.
• The association will organize some extra activities such as animation with kids in which the volunteers can take part.
The ruins of Chellah are located 20 minutes away (walking distance) from the apartment where the volunteers will live. If the weather conditions are not appropriate or volunteers require it, we can take them there by car (we will take responsibility of transportation costs).
Accommodation details:
The volunteers will live in an apartment in Rabat city center. They will share rooms and sleep on mats. Even though it will be summer, we recommend volunteers to bring a sleeping bag. The apartment is big enough to host the group. According to the preferences of the group, it is possible to separate girls and boys in different rooms. There is a big terrace we can use to relax, have lunch and dinner outside, enjoy the sun, etc. It is with all the kitchen facilities except microwaves, television, WiFi, 2 computers, cleaning tools, etc.
We will cook 3 meals per day and will arrange shifts. Some days a group of volunteers will cook and the others will clean and vice versa. Mutual help for everyday common tasks is important.
Important highlight: Toilets in Morocco are usually Turkish bath style. We prefer to warn you because we learned from previous volunteers experiences.
International volunteers can also ask the national ones to show them the Hammam (public baths). Actually, you should try it once at least; it is indeed a very relaxing and enjoyable experience and has many virtues for the skin.
Camp Address:
CSM IMM 13 APP 06 rue elmowahidine Quartier Hassan
Arrival possibilities and Meeting point:
• If you choose to fly directly into Rabat Airport, we can arrange someone to pick you up for 150 dirhams, otherwise the meeting point will be Rabat Ville Train Station.
• To get to the Rabat Ville Train Station from the airport you can take the bus right outside the gate for 20 dirhams and it will leave you in front of the train station. With a taxi, it should cost you about 100 dirhams (price negotiable).
• If you arrive in any other airport of the country, you will be able to reach Rabat by train, check the timetable and connections on www.oncf.ma
Once you have your flights details please pass them by e-mail to your interlocutor so you can arrange with him or her the meeting point.
The info sheet will be send to you by e-mail 3 weeks prior departure.