By Jamila Bargach | Director
Dar Si Hmad has successfully completed its first edition of its Water School in the region of Ait Baamran, Southwest Morocco. The 7-13 aged rural kids participated in a series of workshops revolving around the topic of water, the environment and technology from June 5 till June 26.
From the 46 children who have assiduously participated in the pilot project, we’d like to tell the story of one child, only one child. His name is Masinissa, he is 6 years old, and unlike all his peers, Masinissa has a motor-skill problem (notably one atrophied hand and leg) limiting, thus, his physical mobility, but especially impacting negatively on his social life. Everyone treated Masinissa as an impotent, incapacitated child; because of concerns of him tripping, falling, hurting himself… he was barred from games and sat, sadly, alone and frustrated in a corner. Even within the regular school-year or when at home, everything was brought to Masinissa and everyone talked about him as though he was unable to comprehend, mistaking his physical impairment for imbecility. His family insisted he participates, and how happy are we they did! Despite remontrances of the teacher and his classmates, our team insisted he plays (though we paid attention to him not be roughed up), our team included him in each and every activity, and our team insisted that he speaks up and voices up his experience. Just like a shy flower blooming little by little, Masinissa ran in a staggered way, held his cup alone even when he was able to bring to the table only half of its liquid, and participated in each and every activity eagerly. Masinissa revealed himself to be extremely smart, started conversing with us and had insights about water-use that his peers did not have. Perhaps his marginalized position of an observer gave him an advantage that the others, way involved in fetching water, did not see. He often suggested that the buckets brought to the well, should not be filled because the water gets wasted. When we had our sea-side trip, Masinissa was bubbling with life and happiness, his frustration having totally been dissipated and is now enjoying being the child he is; thank you for participating in making this happen.
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