Workcamp in Tauoudanat

We have chosen this school for the needs it has. The structure itself its fine, but it doesn't have a good look from outside, as it seems to be old and not taken care off. This is a community based school whose fundings to improve its appearence are not enough to pay for the staff that would make it nicer for children, the cost of the paintings, materials to build up greens spaces and employees would be unaffordable, but we can no doubt make it with the help of volunteers. Having only to buy the materials, we would save half of the costs and the budget allocated for the reconstruction of the school would be enough. The result, with well motivates volunteers, would still be a good quality one.

Apart from working in the camp, those young people can participate also in various activities. The volunteers have the possibility to get in contact with the local people, take part in the Moroccan habitudes and way of life. 
The general organization and responsibility of the workcamp lies in a camp leader who may as well prepare an animation program for the participants, including the proposition of spare-time activities in the surrounding area, although the volunteers can also take initiative on this and propose other activities.

This workcamp is also for national volunteers so the ones coming from abroad will appreciate their everyday  life habits and culture through practical and social involvement. They will get in touch with national volunteers so that they can get involved in the community, not only inside the center but also outside, when they finish their work.

Taroudant is a city of Morocco, located in the southern part of the country. It is situated east of Agadir on the way to Ouzarzate and Sahara desert.
This city is called the "Grandmother of Marrakech" because it looks like a smaller Marrakech with its surrounding ramparts. Today is has the feel of a small fortified market town on a caravan route and almost the whole city is located inside the walls. The city is known for its local crafts, including jewellery and carpets.

The old kasbah quarter, originally a fortress built by Moulay Ismail, is today a poor but safe residential area, where winding lanes and low archways lead to tiny squares and dead ends. The governor’s palace, on the eastern side of the kasbah, now forms part of Hôtel Palais Salam.

Taroudannt has no ‘European’ quarter or ville nouvelle (new town). Most facilities are found on and around the two central squares, Pl al-Alaouyine (formerly Pl Assarag) and Pl an-Nasr (formerly Pl Talmoqlate).

Banks on Pl al-Alaouyine have ATMs, money-changing facilities and visa services. Internet cafes are found along Aves Bir Zaran and Mohammed V.

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.

- Painting the school, both just as a basic maintenance and also in a creative way. The camp leaders will make a program to paint frescoes but the volunteers can also propose ideas.

- Cleaning the center as a part of its maintenance while the children are on holidays.

- “Green activities”. The volunteers will help creating green spaces, planting trees or shrubbery for example.

- Cooking in teams with other volunteers, both national and international.

- Some extra activities will be organized:

• Participation in Tabia Imiwassif and Ait Widern Izdar festivals
• Excursions to Agadir city
• Participation in the semi maraton de Tislan
• Workshops on agriculture: Argan, Amandes..
• Excursions to the central souk

Basic tools for the activities described above will be given. The volunteers will work five days per week, four hours per day in the morning or the afternoon and get the weekend off.

The volunteers will live in a center named “Office of Organizations”, that CSM branch has to make this kind of activities, and it's a contribution of the Minister of Youth.

They will share rooms and sleep in mats. Although it will be summer, sometimes it gets fresh at night, so its highly recommended for them to bring their own sleeping bag.

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.

We need to highlight something that might be a bit difficult for the volunteers, given the past experiences with them. In Morocco, is rare to find the toilets that they are used to have in Europe. In this country, the toilet is normally a typical turkish bath.

Meeting point: Aulad Taima bus station.

By bus: CTM company runs a bus each day from Agadir to Taroudant leaving Agadir at 9.30 and arriving about 11.00. You can check on their website: www.ctm.ma

Although there are many other companies: From Agadir bus station, the trip will cost you 70 Dirhams and the name of the stop is AULAD TAYMA. You can also get a bus from Agadir for 35 Dirhams or from Inzakan for 10.

By taxi: Grand taxis frequently go in and out of Taradount from Agadir and Inezgane. It takes about an hour and 15 minutes one way from Agadir to Taroudant. There are also grand taxis that go between Marrakech and Taroudant, however, you may have to wait a while for the taxi to fill as not that many people travel directly between the two cities via grand taxi. The meeting point and time will be arranged by email before your arrival to Rabat, once you have passed them your flight details.