For a girl who wants to play soccer in rural Morocco, the opportunities are very slim. Though soccer is the national sport in Morocco, loved and watched by all, playing the sport remains almost entirely in the realm of men and boys. That’s largely because girls’ sports, especially girls’ soccer, are viewed in most of Morocco as anywhere from a waste of time at best, to inappropriate and even shameful at worst. It’s not that girls don’t want to play soccer – ask any young girl here and she’ll tell you – but that their attempts to do so are too often thwarted, by everything from lack of supportive adults, lack of team opportunities, cultural pressures, lack of supplies, harassment, and more.
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| Spontaneous dance party at the Souss Girls' Soccer Camp |
In an effort to remedy all this, a number of PCVs in Morocco have started or helped bolster existing girls’ soccer clubs/teams in their sites. At a brainstorming session during a regional meeting in October, a number of us recognized the need for bolstering girls’ soccer on a region-wide level, through some sort of collaborative activity that would increase soccer skills, bring together like-minded girls, and provide positive role models for young girl soccer players. We wanted a way for the girls to feel supported and empowered in standing up to a culture that frowned upon their soccer playing, on a much broader scale than any single PCV could accomplish. A few minutes of conversation later, the idea for the Souss Girls’ Soccer Camp was born
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The Beginning
Our first few months working to organize the camp were rough, despite initial support from local officials. After months of waiting for an answer, the Ministry of Youth and Sports denied our request for securing a field and lodging, despite a longstanding partnership with Peace Corps in coordinating camps for youth. Our counterparts at the delegation dropped out after that piece of bad news, and we were left frantically searching for community partners and a space to hold the camp with only a few months to go until the planned dates of the camp. The breakthrough occurred when we contacted Intilaqa, a local association focused on youth activities that works in the town of a nearby volunteer. Intilaqa agreed to partner with us, and soon they had secured both the field and the Dar Talib next door for housing during the camp. They helped with all elements of camp planning and implementation from that point forward, from logistics to staff to Arabic translation.
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| Some of the girls of AMJAD and their coaches |
Around the same time we were looking for space, I contacted AMJAD, the women’s professional soccer team based in nearby Taroudant. From the very first meeting I had with AMJAD, sitting in a circle on their soft turf field after their Friday practice, they were enthusiastic about the idea and fully willing to help. From that point onward, I was continually amazed by AMJAD’s trusting, enthusiastic, no-questions-asked commitment to help with the camp. It was clear that they were invested in the success of the camp and of our region-wide girls’ soccer initiative. Still, I was surprised when, after asking for an estimate of the number of girls they’d be bringing to the camp, they responded that they’d like to bring the ENTIRE team. I was floored; I’d expected a hesitant number, perhaps 5 or 6, and they’d offered the entire 18 person team! In the end, it was ME that had to dial it back, as we only had space for around 10 coaches in the camp facility. After that meeting, I knew for sure that AMJAD would be solid support for the camp, and when we finally began a few months later, I saw just how amazing AMJAD would truly be.
The Campers Arrive
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| The banner at the camp entrance |
The 48 campers who participated were from 4 burgeoning soccer teams from 4 small PCV sites in the region – Tafraoute, Ikhorbane, Temsia, and my site, Sebt el-Guerdane – with each town bringing 11-14 girls to the camp. Some girls had a decent amount of soccer experience, and had even played as part of a team before, while others were just starting out as soccer players. Some girls were more confident than others, and some came from more conservative or liberal families than others. Some had soccer outfits and good shoes to play in, while others were making due with what little they had. What all the girls had in common, though, was a strong desire to play soccer, and a general lack of opportunities for them to play in their communities.
The camp was 6 days long, beginning with the girls’ arrival on Sunday afternoon and ending with the girls; departure the following Saturday morning. We had the full-sized soccer stadium of Temsia reserved for our use for the week, as well as the Dar Talib (boarding house) next door, where the girls ate and slept. Each day started out with morning soccer training on the field followed by a workshop on soccer strategy, both led by AMJAD. The afternoons consisted of a health workshop lead by PCVs, followed by a second training on the field, and some free time for the girls. In the evenings, the counselors put together various fun activities for the girls, such as games, songs, talent shows, etc.
The Coaches
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| AMJAD's captain leading a workshop on soccer strategy |
Although the girls seemed to enjoy all of the activities, it was clear that AMJAD’s contribution was by far the most successful part of the camp. AMJAD brought 9 of their players and 2 of their coaches to lead the soccer training and strategy portion of the camp. Although we knew they would be great as coaches for the girls, our expectations were blown away when we saw how animated, enthusiastic, and creative they were throughout the camp. The soccer training sessions they led were incredibly organized and well-run: The field was divided up into 4 mini-fields, one for each of the 4 groups of girls we had at the camp. AMJAD split up amongst the 4 groups, giving each group 2-3 AMJAD players to act as their coaches throughout the week. Each training session consisted of warm-ups, calisthenics, and drills to focus on specific skills, such as passing, control, shooting, etc.
AMJAD also brought all of their gear with them, so the trainings were complete with plenty of balls, cones, pinnies, nets, etc. They were serious, thorough, realistic soccer trainings – the first that most of the girls at the camp had ever been a part of. It was such an inspiring sight to finally see the girls and their soccer skills taken seriously by a group of people, especially in such a conservative region that consistently frowns upon girls’ sports in general and girls’ soccer in particular.
Though they were serious coaches on the field, AMJAD could always be found singing, drumming, starting chants, joking, and generally having a blast with the girls after practices, during free time, at meals, and in any other spaces in-between. Though they’d never done it before, it turned out they were natural camp leaders and youth developers! The girls quickly fell in love with AMJAD, as evidenced by the applause and chants of “Olay AMJAD Olay!” the girls greeted them with any time they walked into a room. In addition to being great coaches and friends, it was clear that the AMJAD players were role models to the girls, most of whom had never before met a woman who played sports professionally. In fact, one of the sessions the girls were the most excited about was on the first night of camp, when the AMJAD players hosted an open question and answer session with the girls about soccer, their lives, and women’s soccer in Morocco. It was clear that the girls loved the chance to get to know and pick the brains of women who had not only gone against the norm and played soccer, but had gone so far as to do it professionally.
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| AMJAD taking questions from the girls |
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| A few girls with their AMJAD coach for the week |
A Deeper Meaning
As I watched the girls on the field, dressed in color-coordinated pinnies, concentrating on weaving their balls through cones, the constant encouragement of their AMJAD coaches nearby, I couldn’t help but think about the stark contrast with the soccer practices we hold in my site: Though it is an accomplishment that we play at all, we are sadly relegated to the weed- and rock-covered side field next to the main field; we only have 1 ball, which my mudir neglects to properly inflate 50% of the time; we have no cones, pinnies, or nets, and make due with rocks for goal posts. All of this goes on while the boys play next to us on the main field, decked out in uniforms and with multiple balls, nets, whistles, everything they need. On top of it all, the girls and I frequently get harassed and mocked while we play, by young boys and grown men alike, who apparently aren’t comfortable with the idea of girls playing soccer at all, even if on a disheveled side field with no equipment. The entire scene sends a strong message to the girls: you are not welcome here. You are not taken seriously, especially not as soccer players. Nobody cares. Week after week, that scene has broken my heart. But that week, at the Souss Girls Soccer camp, with AMJAD coaches, a full field, equipment, and serious training sessions, the girls were finally given the opposite message: We take you seriously. We care about you. We want to see you play well. We want to see you have fun. You matter. And that simple fact illustrated the entire reason why this camp was worthwhile – and about more than just soccer.
The Health Factor
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| Nutrition and exercise workshop |
We filled the time during the afternoon heat with a series of health workshops organized by PCVs. The first, led by Emily and John, focused on nutrition and exercise. The girls learned about the food groups, talked about the food pyramid, and played games to test their knowledge. The second was led by ALCS, a Moroccan HIV/AIDS awareness organization, who brought 3 women in to talk to the girls in a culturally appropriate way. I led the 3rd workshop, which was about self-esteem and societal standards of beauty. The girls talked about how they felt when they looked at themselves in the mirror, how standards of
beauty are formed, inner and outer beauty, and more. At the end, they wrote poems about all the things that make them who they are. The workshops were really successful, and I’m proud of the girls for keeping up the energy to participate during that difficult time of day!
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| Writing poems during the self-esteem workshop |
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| HIV/AIDS workshop |
Field Trip to the Beach
On Wednesday, we took a break from our regular schedule and took a trip to the beach. For some of the girls, particularly those from the mountain town of Tafraoute, it was the first time they’d ever seen the ocean! We went to a lesser-known beach outside Agadir, where we were able to claim an entire section of beach for the campers to relax and play. In between lounging, games, and swimming, AMJAD led a full-blown soccer training on the beach, complete with exercises, drills, and matches! It was truly an awesome site to see. Later, after a late lunch of fresh fish at the marina, we went for a tour of the brand new world-class soccer stadium in Agadir. It’s a stadium that soccer players from all around the world will play on, and it was really exciting for the girls to get a private tour. At the end of our time there, the mudir of the stadium surprised us by giving a little speech about women’s sports and civic participation in Morocco. He told the girls how the stadium was a project of the ministry of culture, the head of which (and thus his boss) is a woman. He then said, (roughly paraphrased and translated from Arabic), “I don’t want you all to look at this stadium and think, ‘Oh, this is great and all, but its just for boys.’ No, this stadium is yours too, and you should believe that you have every right to be here and play here as
boys.” It goes without saying that his statements were met with much
applause.
Looking Forward
By the end of the week, it was clear we had accomplished something amazing with the Souss Girls’ Soccer camp. As they played their final matches, the girls were visibly more confident, skilled, and enthusiastic about soccer than they’d been on the first day. Girls from different towns who had just met days before walked around arm in arm like sisters. When AMJAD pulled out their drums and started playing, the girls felt the freedom to let loose and dance freely in a space they felt they owned. Perhaps most indicative was the number 1 question asked by the girls on the last day: “When will next year’s camp be?”
Looking forward, AMJAD has already stressed on multiple occasions their desire to do the camp next year; they want to not only coach, but take ownership and run the camp. It’s too soon to tell, but it’s looking like this project could become something not only successful, but sustainable into the future as well. A yearly regional soccer camp, sponsored and led by the country’s leading professional women’s soccer team: that’s something amazing to look forward to.
Our goal had been to lead a girls’ camp that would foster empowerment through sports, give the girls a safe space to practice soccer, and develop region-wide enthusiasm about girls’ soccer; looking around, it was impossible not to see that we had succeeded, thanks to amazing work done by AMJAD, Intilaqa, and all our other Moroccan partners.
