📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
CSM Local branch in Zagora
💼 What the programme involves
The aim of this cultural project is to offer the participants the opportunity to get to know the Moroccan culture, specially the one from the south of Morocco, the Desert of Sahara, which fascinates everyone who comes to visit it. The participants will have the opportunity not only to visit the Desert as turist, but only to enjoy our culture from our hands an to get immersed into it, participating in the several activities proposed. The main aim of the project is to promote interculturality.
We will divide the group on two depending on the choice of participants:
1/ First group: voluntary work and Pottery courses (Painting and gardening work in culture house + Learn how to cook some delicious Moroccan food+pottery courses).
2/ Second group: Professional Theatre and clown training in collaboration with (Association Caravane Théâtre from France) + Learn how to cook some delicious Moroccan food.
DAY MORNING EVENING
26 December Arrival in Zagora Opening Ceremony
27 December Training (Painting/Pottery/Theatre) Games with 100 children from Zagora in Zagora park
28 December Training (Painting/Pottery/Theatre) Excursion in Zagora's mountain / Intercultural Evening
29 December Training (Painting/Pottery/Theatre) Visit of old Kasbah/pottery workshops/ and historical library / Excursion to the desert / Night in Bivoac
30 December Back in Zagora Moroccan kitchen courses
31 December Training (Painting/Pottery/Theatre) Visit to the local museum + Bicycle excursion to the oasis of Zagora + New Year Party!!
1 January Training (Painting/Pottery/Theatre)
2 January Free time! Hammam (Turkish bath), shopping in the Souk etc.
🏠 Accommodation on site
The volunteers will be hosted in a Youth center or in a family house, depending on availability. They will be informed about this two weeks before their arrival.
If they are staying in the youth center, 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.
📍 About the location
The town of Zagora sits at the foot of Anti-Atlas Mountains and on the shore of the Draa Valley in South Eastern Morocco. Zagora's allure is mainly attributed to the great Draa Valley, which is still a home for several of Morocco's tribes. The name Zagora is derived from 'Tazagort,' a mountain by the shore of Draa Valley overlooking the city.
Zagora gathers a number of minority groups, including numerous Amazigh tribes from Ait Atta clan, and black African groups who emigrated from Sub-Saharan Africa, along with the Caravans. Arabs have also settled in Zagora, coming from Marrakech since the medieval times.
Zagora's historical monuments and natural features are what enchant foreign guests most. Tourists from major European countries, such as France, Germany and Switzerland, travel to Morocco to explore Zagora. The region still preserves numerous Kasbahs and old fortresses that mark bygone era. In addition, the Sahara desert landscapes of sand dunes and 'Hamadas'* is also worth discovering.
The artistic characteristics of Zagora lay in crafts, as well as folklore. Zagora is home of old pottery factories. Clay dishes are exclusively made in Tamegroute, featuring green colored productions and displayed in local and national exhibitions. Reed is also used to make crafts.
Folklore in Zagora reflects the cultural identity of the joint communities. Both Amazighs and Arabs of the area, perform different artistic shows, varying from Ahidous to Regba and Hassani rhythms.