KEEP 100 MOROCCAN CHILDREN AWAY FROM ABANDONMENT

It is a great pleasure to get back to you and give you news about the children and mothers you are sponsoring in the Family Strengthening program of Imzouren.

The start of the academic year is always a complicated time because it implies additional expenses for the families but thanks to your support and local community solidarity, school supplies, school bags and notebooks were given to more than 60 children of the project. This meant fewer expenses for the mothers of the Family Strengthening program, which were then able to celebrate Aid El Kebir according to the tradition, just as all Moroccan families, in a very festive yet simple atmosphere.

As you know, within the project we consider that children education is key in addition to training and literacy tuition for their mothers to lead them towards autonomy. That is why, last quarter, the spotlights were on monitoring school results and helping youths find their way into the academic and professional life.

• At the beginning of the academic year, the Family Strengthening program mothers have met with Hermann Gmeiner SOS school teachers and our project coordinator has established a program to monitor children and youth school results.
• Additionally, our project coordinator has set up an extra-tutoring program in order to fill gaps in pupil’s knowledge, mainly in mathematics and French. The aim is to strengthen their knowledge and prevent early school leave.
• In November, SOS Children’s Village organized a national Youths Forum, to which Imzouren youths had the chance to attend. This event aimed at making the youths aware of the importance of education and professional training, in particular thanks to presentations from the Moroccan Students Foundation (which sponsors students following studies after getting the Baccalaureate certificate) and our partner DHL (which sponsors youths following professional training).
• Locally, a course choice workshop was also organized for Imzouren’s youths but also for their mothers.  Indeed, the Family Strengthening program raised awareness of the importance of youths’ course choice among their mothers, since if these youths are successful, they will help supporting the family and leading it towards autonomy in the near future.

A healthy mind in a healthy body, children of the program also had the chance to join soccer and basketball clubs with JSI association.

Let me share some nice successful stories of Imzouren Family Strengthening program youths with you:

• Thanks to last June course choice workshop, Youness, who had dropped school at the end of grade school, got a second chance: he is now following a professional training in aluminum work. This is a very dynamic sector in the new Imzouren and we bet this new start will lead Youness and his family towards a brighter future.
• Siham successfully passed her baccalaureate certificate last year and, after long discussion within her family to fight conservative tradition, this determined young women finally won the debate and enrolled in Oujda’s University, to follow biology and geology classes. It is the first time Siham is living far from her mother and siblings, and this first steps towards her autonomy requires lots of strength and courage. We wish her success in her studies!
• Youssef continues his universitary studies in Oujda to get an Arab private right license. This youth is following the right path towards autonomy: he passed the police competitive exam (we are still waiting for the results and crossing fingers), he also works as a referee and sport teacher to pay the rent and support his sister Fatema. This is a great responsibility for this serious youth, after the loss of his mother. Fatema has become the local celebrity. Imzouren community proudly encourages her: she is a middle school student at LAKHMISSAT Athletics Royal Institute and, thanks to her tenacity and dedication, she has won several national competitions. We wish all the best to these two youth!

In addition to Aid El Kebir, last quarter was filled with celebrations in Imzouren:

• Achoura and “La marche verte” national days were celebrated in Imzouren SOS children’s village, with several activities: dance, songs, cultural challenge and other games. Lots of fun for everyone but also a bit of education about the Moroccan history!
• For Children’s Rights Day, several activities were programmed in SOS children’s village in order to celebrate this very important day, raise awareness and stimulate the creativity of the Family Strengthening program children: drawing and writing workshops but also a role play and a great debate moderated by our program coordinator. This day was also the opportunity for Hermann Gmeiner SOS school pupils to set up a solidarity campaign and collect warm clothes to help families living in precarious conditions face the coming winter that promises to be harsh and cold.

Let me thank you again for your support, which helps us give these children and their mothers the best chances to get their autonomy!

Happy holidays to you and your families!