Teaching in and Exploring Morocco {Aug 2013}

Earlier this year, I decided that it was time for me to get back into volunteering abroad. I have previously been to Jordan and Romania where I worked with children through art. They were both amazing experiences and I learnt so much from the children I worked with. I have always wanted to go to Morocco purely because of the Arabic/Islamic art over there but I also wanted a reasonably worthwhile and cost effective experience. I researched charities and gap year programmes online for a while before I stumbled across Plan My Gap Year. As the name suggests it is predominately for gap year students, but I thought I would give it a shot as a teacher and apply for a placement.

I successfully got through and was put on a placement to work in an orphanage. To cut a long story short, when I along with the other girls got to Marrakesh a day after visiting the orphanage, based on a previous incident with the previous volunteers we were unable to commence our placement there. We were a little disheartened but luckily our supervisor had contacts and found us another placement which formed into a mini summer school at a guy called Hassan's house. He is a disabled man and a single parent with two children and was such a lovely person. He was very welcoming and had a clear objective of the summer school which was to teach children basic english along with creative activities. 

I volunteered with a group of girls who were all university students. We got along well which was great considering I was quite a bit older then them. Teaching English was really enjoyable and the kids were so lovely and some very cheeky! We had to plan our sessions daily which were full of sing songs and a range of activities to consolidate their learning.

When we weren't teaching, we had time to go and explore Marrakesh. We went to the local square Djema'a El Fna which was hustling and bustling with locals and tourists eating, bargaining and just admiring local handicrafts. I really enjoyed Marrakesh as there was lots to do from day excursions to Essaouira (beach) to the Sahara. Below are a selection of photos from my visit. I am now planning on where to venture next summer to teach :)