Morocco
Unlocking the Potential of Moroccan Youth
I recently returned from a week-long trip to Morocco where USAID brought together the heads of our offices from across the Arab world to reflect on how we can and should adjust our work in response to the Arab Spring.
Among the many themes we discussed was the central role of youth in the recent demonstrations. USAID has a strong record of engaging youth throughout the region, but we are always looking to doing more, and in creative ways.
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Hady Amr, discusses the future of Morocco with participants of the Morocco Civil Society and Advocacy project. Photo Credit: USAID/Morocco
While I was in Morocco, I took the opportunity to visit several USAID projects. One of the most memorable visits was to the Morocco Civil Society and Advocacy project – also known as “SANAD” (meaning “support” in Arabic). The purpose of this project is to help young Moroccans feel engaged with their government. This is more important than ever because of political transformations that are under way in the country and throughout the Arab world.
Seeing the wave of protest spreading across the Arab world, on March 9th the King of Morocco announced the creation of a new commission called the Consultative Commission on Constitutional Reform (CCRC). The CCRC has been tasked with proposing constitutional reforms to strengthen political participation and transparency by June. A constitutional referendum is scheduled in early July and an elections in October.
USAID is supporting several youth groups by organizing regional and national debates with over 1000 participants from eight regions in Morocco. The youth groups are also helping to produce two memorandums on reforms that will be officially submitted to the CCRC.
The Moroccan youth I met with talked about specific articles in the Moroccan constitution that they wanted to see changed, and how they wanted to see them changed. They spoke about the need for economic growth and had their own ideas about that. And they spoke about the future character of their nation.
What was clear to me through these meetings was that Moroccan youth, like their counterparts across the Arab world, can be tremendous resources to their own societies, if only their potential is unlocked.
Hady Amr is the Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Middle East at USAID. Follow him on Twitter.
How do Moroccan Youth Make Change Happen?
Moroccan Youth in a dialogue with Moroccan NGO leaders on how they can be involved. Photo Credit: Matthew Johnson
Submitted by Matthew Johnson
On the final day of breakout sessions during Morocco’s Ramadan Youth Outreach event, the discussions focused on being involved in local government. The morning started off with a round table discussion with seven youth leaders of NGOs. The afternoon session was a discussion with elected officials on how young people can get involved.
Through the conference, there have been debates on how the youth can make an impact on Moroccan society. Really the answer is simple – get involved. If the youth in Morocco aren’t active in participating in society, change will never take place.
During the morning session with the NGO leaders, there was a very interesting discussion on reasons why youth don’t get involved. Below are a few reasons I heard from the youth:
“I feel so behind educationally, that I don’t think I would know what to do if I got involved.”
“I want to be involved, but youth does not exist in this society. Even if I get involved, no one will listen to me.”
“I feel ignorant of how government works. I don’t know what I can do.”
As more and more students talked, I sensed a fear of getting involved – a fear of not knowing what to do, a fear of failure, and a fear of being inadequately prepared.
During this discussion, two young women stood up and shared their thoughts. One young woman said, “We need to stop complaining and get involved. We must be positive and not negative. That is the only way we can make change happen.”
Another woman said that she never wanted to be involved in politics because she didn’t think she could ever make a difference. But through encouragement of her friends, she decided to run for a local political office. Much to her surprise she won the election and she’s been able to make a huge impact in her community! She told the youth that unless they get involved, they will never make a difference. They can’t be afraid to get involved.
These two young women delivered a powerful message to the 160 youth participants. It was so great to see two young women challenging their peers. At the conclusion of this session, I talked to several youth that were encouraged and challenged to get involved and make a difference.
The following day during the closing ceremony, John Groarke, the USAID/Morocco Mission Director issued a perfect challenge to the participants saying, “change will only come if you make it happen.”
So how do Moroccan youth make change happen? They get involved.
Update from Morocco on the Ramadan Youth Outreach Event
Submitted by Matthew Johnson
The Ramadan Youth Outreach conference is in full swing. There is so much to write about, but I want to provide a few observations from the first full day of sessions.
As I mentioned in my previous entry, the first day of the conference focused on Entrepreneurship, Employability, and Investment. There are six breakout session throughout the day. I was able to participate in a few of the sessions and found them to be fascinating.
One of the sessions I participated in was called “Acquiring the Spirit of Entrepreneurship.” The purpose of this session was to get the participants thinking creatively about solving problems. During the session, we had a few “challenges” which as a group we had to solve. Each problem seemed impossible. That is until we started to think creatively and think outside of the box.
In talking with the youth and NGOs working in Morocco, I’ve learned that opportunities are so limited for young people. Many quit school at an early age because they see no point in it. They don’t think they will be able to find a job, so why bother going to school.
That is where the spirit of entrepreneurship becomes important. There may not be a job available for many of the youth participating this week, but they are learning to create their own opportunities. One of the participants said during a breakout session, “I don’t need to wait for someone else to make things happen. If I start to make things happen myself, the others will follow me.”
After a day full of thinking and talking about entrepreneurship, I put together this short video asking a few Moroccan youth what they thought about entrepreneurship and innovation. It was interesting to hear their responses.
From Ideas to Projects: Kicking off Morocco’s Ramadan Youth Event
Submitted by Matthew Johnson, Outreach Coordinator, Asia & Middle East Bureaus
Yesterday afternoon more than 160 youth (18 to 35) from across Morocco descended on the Capital city of Rabat. These young men and women have traveled long distances to participate in USAID’s 3rd annual Ramadan Youth Outreach event.
I’ve traveled to Morocco from Washington, DC to participate in this weeks activities.
This week long event gathers the brightest youth of Morocco. I’ve met entrepreneurs, law students, social activists, and engineers.
This years theme, “from ideas to projects,” will help the participants find ways to turn their ideas into real projects.
Participants taking part in an Iftar on the first night of the conference. Photo Credit: Matthew Johnson USAID
Karima Rhanem, of USAID/Morocco, is the lead in organizing the event. She told me, “the purpose of this event is to give these talented young Moroccans the tools they need to make an impact in the future of Morocco.”
Each day the conference will have a different theme with multiple of break out sessions. At night there will be an Iftar and cultural celebrations.
Day 1 will focus on Employment, Entrepreneurship, and Investments
Day 2 will focus on ways to improve Education.
Day 3 will focus on Civil Society
Day 4 will focus on getting involved in local governance.
Day 5 will be a closing ceremony that will give awards to youth who have made an impact in Morocco.
Stay tuned for more updates as the week progresses!
