Rabat
Action in cooperation with Groupe Développement
Project presentation
Beneficiaries : 1500 children
Context : The Moroccan state education system’s shortcomings are one of the main sources of the idleness and unemployment of the youth. Although children must officially attend school until the age of sixteen, in reality this remains a luxury for the poorer families who are unable to buy the necessary school stationary or pay for lunch for their children (school is often a long way from home). 56% of the Moroccan population is illiterate.
Action : BAYTI association has played a role in creating an independent association called JIWAR («neighbourhood» in Moroccan) in an attempt to prevent problems occurring at source. This project enables 1500 children, girls and boys aged between five and fifteen to learn how to read and write and enable them to return to school. Its work focuses on the poorest inner-city areas of the capital Rabat and Salé.
- Creating nursery classes
- Teaching methods are modernised and providing girls with schooling is encouraged.
- Organising educational activities, holiday camps, gardening and a library in schools
- Introducing team sports
- A project has been started in the canteen to teach children about hygiene and citizenship around a well-balanced meal
Financial data : The Okworld foundation contributes
€ 25,000.
Project life
BAYTI is the oldest partner of Groupe Développement in Morocco. This association, created in 1994 and wholly run by Moroccan volunteers, is the first NGO in this country devoted to protecting abandoned children and helping them return to school and find work. This has been achieved not by creating parallel private schools but by strengthening the capacities and improving the quality of the state education system.
First of all, all the premises were refurbished and a nursery class was created with funds collected locally by the association. The teaching team and the majority of the running costs are funded by the Ministry of Education and Mutual Aid. Additional rooms (pre-school, library) are built by the local councils and the Governor of Salé.
The association also has another priority: obtaining educational equipment, school stationery and extra furniture enabling teachers to educate children in good conditions. Participatory activities enable the role of schools to be enhanced within the framework of local development.Particular attention is paid to motivating families: they are invited to literacy lessons, encouraged to follow their children’s schooling and play a role in the life of the school (special events, collecting funds, etc.). Furthermore, JIWAR helps families to have their children registered with the state authorities and enables a large number of children to return to school. A social worker seeks out children who have been away from school for a long time and, with the help of the authorities, forces reluctant parents to let their children go to school.
With the help of the Ministry of Youth and Sport, introducing team sports (football club for 80 children, basketball, etc for girls as well) is also a necessary activity to help make schools more attractive, develop teamwork and helping others, and help the overall development of young people. Particular focus is put on orphans and the most underprivileged children for these activities.
A well-balanced meal is provided at lunchtime thanks to JIWAR: malnutrition seriously affects the children’s ability to learn and concentrate. A project has been started in the canteen to teach children about hygiene and citizenship (avoid pushing each other, not eating too quickly…). Children wearing fluorescent jackets are in charge of discipline and ensure their fellow children behave sensibly.
