Interview with a GAD Counterpart

Last week, GAD sat down with a fabulous GAD counterpart (and the PCV she works with) to find out what it's like for Moroccan working with Peace Corps Volunteers.  The following interview reveals some tips and insights into being a great counterpart and finding a great counterpart to work with.

The interview was conducted with Raja  in Darija in her home near Errichidia.  Please note that while many PCVs feel it is important to find a counterpart whose English is impeccable, Raja speaks very little English and communicates primarily in Darija.  Her work relationship with her PCV counerpart is conducted in Darija.

Photo credit: Alison Elder

Alison and Raja at the Women's Empowerment Network Training in Ifrane

GAD: Tell me a little about yourself.

R: My name is Raja. I volunteer with an association Chorok, which helps women and children who are divorced or in poverty, often those whose husbands have died.

GAD: What did you study at University?  Where?

R: I studied Arabic language / linguistics at the University in Errichidia.  I received a 3-year diploma and finished 2011.

GAD: When did you begin working with Peace Corps?

R: Before Zohora (PCV Alison Elder) shwiya I worked with Anna Schiffer.  We did a small weekend camp in Taous: we played games with children between 7 and 12 years.  We did another project at the Dar Chebab, for women.  I helped her partner with the Association Chorok to do a small health workshop. I began with Zohora when she arrived.  

GAD: How many Peace Corps workshops/trainings have you attended?

R: I’ve been to many: IYF in October 2015, Gender Advocate Training in December 2014, Project Development Management in April 2015

IYF celebration picnic (Raja pictured center)

GAD: What is the best event you have put on?

R: IYF and PDM.

Our first group of IYF, with 25 people.  We had mothers and people doing the BAC.  Everyone came on time and were motivated to work with us.  They were the best group because they listened and focused.  We did a flyer at the Dar Chebab and used word of mouth to advertise.  We need good relations with others because people need something new.  They need trust.  They need constantly to enjoy what they’re doing.  Two volunteers tried IYF in the past but were unable to succeed.  We speak from our heart and do a lot of planning in order to make a great program for the youth of Boudnib.  The youth of Boudnib need IYF.

(talking about PDM) Before, a Moroccan association gave bicycles to young girls [in town] to prevent them from dropping out of school.  But that wasn’t the solution, because the girls didn’t want to go to school.  We received a list of 6 girls who had dropped out of school and asked them how we could help them, but they merely didn’t want to study.  So we hope to begin the project again with Dar Taliba (a boarding house for young women).

The best program we did with Zohora: Women don’t know how to take care of themselves: their health, their heart, stomach, sucar (diabetes).  People came from the hills, which was very hard.  We had 140 women and a tent.  We worked with a diabetes assocition Moharabat de Sucare in [town].  Everyone went to Taous early in the morning for two days.  We did diabetes testing, with the help of PC and Moharabat de Sucare.  We brought nurses from the hospital to speak to them about how to be healthy.  We did aerobics both days, ate lunch with them.  We did it a second time with a different topic: family planning, how to cook healthy food, how to take care of their periods (reusable pads were donated from an NGO in the US), importance of and how to breastfeed.  We had 140 people, some new and some returned.  The ones who returned had gained confidence, spoke up, asked questions, engaged with the nurses.  The Red Cross came from Errichidia and spoke about and did blood pressure testing.  

Raja, left, at the women's health workshop in Taous

If we have the chance, we will do it again.  The women really enjoyed.  It makes me happy because Errichidia and the South East have a problem.  We need healthy women, because everyone has this problem (lack of health education).  We need women leaders.  Our role in society is important.  We need equality for everyone.  Men must help children to learn.  Women help to train their children about health and how to live so we must help them learn.  Because one small message from the mother becomes big in the [children's] mind[s] as they grow.  Health education is the most important lesson in life.  How to take care of yourself is first.  Women in the [country side] aren’t like women in the center.  They don’t know everything about health, when they must go to the hospital, etc.  This is our goal.

GAD: Why do you think it is important to work with women in Morocco?

Because women don’t have associations.  They talk a lot about associations.  They have lots of ideas but don’t do anything, in truth.  We need to work with women and need volunteers to work with women.

I know other volunteers like me, but sometimes they don’t want to work much.  You must be working and thinking about work all the time.  I have ideas before I go to sleep.  Every volunteer must first think about their goals.  That is a volunteer.  There are many problems in life, not just health.

First, you must know the students who you will work with.  You must understand them and what they want: health or studies or what.  This is the role of the volunteers. We must also know their schedules, when they are at the farm and when at souq, so we can work with them.

GAD: Any advice for other Moroccan counterparts who want to work with women and Peace Corps?

R: You must have a focus on humanity, first.  You must love all people.  You must listen well.  If you have an idea, you must respect time, you must know everything, you must be prepared.

GAD: When Zohora leaves, will you continue your work?

R: Inchallah.

Raja, working with other volunteers, helping her community build a playground

Alison / Zohora's feedback on working with a GAD counterpart

GAD: How did you find Raja3 as a counterpart?

I would say Raja3 is a pretty obvious counterpart.  When I first got here, we spent a ton of time together.  She knows everybody and is bubbly and outgoing and confident and everything wonderful.  And so I guess the first time we worked together - she would come to aerobics - was for the IYF because she hadn’t really worked as a counterpart before.  So I was a little unsure because she was a little all over the place.  I wasn’t sure how she’d handle professional things but she was stellar.  Really great counterpart.  

My advice for people working for counterparts - the reason why she and I succeeded is, although she is naturally wonderful and obvious, but also after IFY I didn’t say, “Now you go do this.”  I would push her, ask when to start, we would work on it together, and for the first 40 lessons we did, I went with her and supported her and helped with planning.  I encouraged her. I think it’s important to not think, “It’s all on them”.  The program has to be started by you.  It won’t just happen.  I asked Raja3 what are issues facing women here?  She did a huge part of the planning and she’s someone I trust to tell me what the community needs and she’s very enthusiastic and happy to help out.  She’s extraordinary.