It’s been a roller-coaster of a ride as many PCVs’ service comes to an end. Winter camps recently finished and for some of us that included endless nights of music, dancing and lesson planning. I decided to help out at two different camps this winter break and as I signed up for both I knew I would wear myself out but I also knew this was an opportunity to say good bye to old friends I made along the way and to make new friends with the youth in different areas of Morocco. The first camp I volunteered in was the 2nd annual Space Camp in Akka with over 100 youth. Rebecca Mukiibi was the PCV who organized the camp in her site and this year she wrote a grant in order to help youth from different parts of the south region to attend the Space Camp. This particular idea in bringing over 100 youth seemed overwhelming but at the end I felt was the most important aspect. Many of the youth developed friendships with each other which I believe to be long lasting and important in their lives. The Space Camp was filled with so many fun and innovative activities but one of the activities was a Gender and Development workshop that was simple and to the point.
Sometimes as PCVs we may feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed to discuss gender inequality in our communities but as I helped facilitated the workshop I could see that this hour was important for the youth to discuss their views on gender inequality within a Moroccan society. The workshop included a number of strong and successful women leaders around the world. We discussed gender roles in the professional field and it was extremely fun to hear what the youth had to say. At the end, I was approached by many of the youth who wanted to discuss further how they can help their community under a gender lens.
Space Camp was over and before I knew it I was sitting on the bus with a few of the campers from Space Camp on their way home and me on my way to a G.L.O.W. camp in Tazenakht, six hours away from my site. I kept telling myself you should have went home to relax but responsibility suppressed that feeling as I promised a friend, PCV Nia Muhammad I would make it to her G.L.O.W camp. At the G.L.O.W. camp, I helped lead two GAD activities which were the You Can Dream video and the Moroccans Breaking the Silence video on sexual harassment. The first time I watched the You Can Dream video was during my PST and I forgot how good and inspiring it was to watch. We held discussions in between the clips and it was wonderful to hear the girls’ responses about the Moroccan women in the video who persevered and succeeded in making huge changes in their communities. Some of the women in the video were unable to finish their education so it was extremely important for the girls at the camp to see that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
The video Moroccan Breaking the Silence on sexual harassment was when I knew my service would never be the same if it wasn’t for camps. At camps, everyone develops a sense of friendship, a bond with; PCVs, campers and counterparts. You develop a safe space for people to talk about issues you don’t necessarily talk about outside in the real world. During the sexual harassment video, without publicizing a private moment one of the campers had, I can at least write that when she spoke it filled my heart with hope and strength; it was one of those moments I think all volunteers hope to aspire to accomplish. Sometimes, I take those moments for granted because it happens often. Throughout the camp, that camper and I exchanged smiles and on the last day she hugged and thanked me.
I now think, what if I went home that day when Space Camp was over because I was tired, I would have missed this opportunity in helping a young woman find the strength she was looking for and she found it in that room, on that day because she felt safe. Sometimes we can’t measure our work but always remember; to put your heart into it, the youth look at us every step of the way and when we make that move in solidarity, without judgement but with compassion and understanding, you’ll see they will be inspired and together change happens. So, will I help in another camp again, probably yes!
Thank you to all the PCVs I had the pleasure to work with at both the Space and G.L.O.W. camps and a special thank you to the youth and Moroccan counterparts that worked so hard to make these opportunities a reality for PCVs.
Check out our resources to find our You Can Dream video and Moroccans Breaking the Silence on Sexual Harassment. All videos include discussion questions in Arabic and English.
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