📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The center host several children with trisomy 21 but is also a school for children that don't have this problem, so the volunteers will appreciate their everyday life habits and culture through practical and social involvement. They will get in touch with national volunteers and social workers in the center so that they can get involved in the community, not only inside the center but also outside, when they finish their work.
Marrakech is the capital city of the mid-southwestern region of Marrakesh – Asfi. The red walls of the city, and various buildings constructed in red sandstone during this period, have given the city the nickname of the "Red City" or "Ochre City". A hot semi – arid climate predominates at Marrakesh. Average temperatures range from 12°C in the winter to 32–45°C in the summer.
The Jemma el – Fnaa is one of the best-known squares in Africa and is the centre of city activity and trade. Snake charmers, acrobats, magicians, mystics, musicians, monkey trainers, herb sellers, story-tellers, dentists, pickpockets, and entertainers in medieval garb still populate the square.
Festivals, both national and Islamic, are celebrated in Marrakesh and throughout the country, and some of them are observed as national holidays. Cultural festivals of note held in Marrakesh include the National Folklore Festival, the Marrakech Festival of Popular Arts, and the Berber Festival.
The International Film Festival of Marrakesh aspires to be the North African version of Cannes and showcases over 100 films from around the world annually.
The best way to explore the streets and alleyways is to dive and get lost. There are a few signs dotted around which will point you back to the Dejeema el Fna, and locals will be happy to help you out if you ask – though if they offer to walk with you they may ask for money. This isn’t a problem as you can politely decline, but often they do a good job of showing you something you’d ordinarily miss, so it doesn’t hurt to give them 10 or 20 dirham.
Remember when buying things that to bargain is a part of the Moroccan culture. It can be a lot of fun and a really good way to talk to local people and learn more about their way of life. By the end of the week.
Further information about the country will be attached in the National Profile form.
💼 What the programme involves
The center has capacity for 40 children with down syndrome but only half of them are attending classes because of a lack of transport.
Taking care of down syndrome people, organizing leisure activities, accompanying them in their daily activities, support the teachers in basic life skills such as teaching them manners, how to sit down, how to eat... Scholar support is given in a school where all kind of children attend classes and they help them to get integrated. In the project, they carry out workshops: - painting – Sport – Kitchen – literacy – Music – excursions out of the school etc.
Developing in children the appreciation of the skills-based approach.
Just in front of the center, there is another center where this kind of children get support for psicological issues, kynesotherapy, ortophonic... Professionals are working on those issues.
The people working in this association are mostly parents who were interested in giving children in this situation a better life based in integration.
VOLUNTEER’S TASKS
Caring, Organizing leisure activities of children with Down Syndrome: Helping the teachers and social workers out in teaching the children manners, how to it, how to behave in public etc. Scholar support, simple tasks, learning with games and songs... accompanying them in their daily tasks . They can participate in all the project activities described above. Also artistic activities, painting, drawing... with a mental development goal.
The center organizes also activities out of it in which the volunteers can also participate such as excursions or sports.
The normal timetable is from 8 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon, children have breakfast and lunch there so the volunteers can help out and also join them.
🏠 Accommodation on site
The volunteers can choose between living in a hosting family or sharing a flat with other volunteers
📍 About the location
Marrakesh airport has a lot of flight connections from all over the world. Otherwise, you can fly from any other city and take a train there. You can check the train timetables on the ONCF website: http://www.oncf.ma/
There are two main options for the transfer into the city, a bus or a taxi. There is a special airport bus that takes passengers into town aThe bus is numbered 19 and departs from just outside the arrival hall.
As for the taxis, they are a good option but you would have to deal the price beforehand. The normal price is 100 Dirhams.
Someone from CSM will pick you up in the city, you should contact the central office before the departure from your country so that they arrange with Marrakesh section your arrival time and meeting point.
⚠️ Requirements
The volunteers are not required to have any previous experience. The center is looking for enthusiastic, positive, patient and respectful people, who are willing to support children with disabilities to learn new skills and develop new relationships in ways that they choose and at a pace they feel comfortable with.
The volunteer must provide a copy of his/her criminal record.
ℹ️ Additional information
The objective of this project is to integrate mostly children with down syndrome, so they can get basic skills useful for life as manners and also scholar support or artistic activities.