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MOROCCO Information Booklet
Welcome
to Morocco
The Kingdom of Morocco Morocco is located on the North West coast of Africa and has ports in the North Atlantic Ocean as well as the Mediterranean Sea. It shares the largest part of its border with Algeria to the East and Mauritania to the South. Morocco is divided into sixteen regions. Each region is further divided into provinces and prefectures. Despite the fact many people identify Marrakech as the major centre of Morocco, the capital city is Rabat and its largest city is Casablanca. Whether you lose yourself in the massive markets in Fes and Marrakech, explore the wonders of the blue streets of Chefchauouen or venture out for a night under the stars in the vast Sahara, Morocco offers a wide variety of activities for you have a remarkable journey.
Language The official language in Morocco is Arabic, though almost one third of the population will speak Berber, mostly in rural areas and the mountains. However French is taught in the schools and is often used in commerce and business. Around Tangier, there will be many people who can speak Spanish, due to the proximity of Spain and Spain's past involvement in that corner of the country.
Religion Morocco is an Islamic country (approximately 99% of the country are Muslims). Muslims (those that follow Islam) are expected to pray 5 times per day, with the first call to prayer at dawn (the call to prayer nowadays coming from speakers on the minaret of the mosque. Friday is the Muslim holy day and shops or market stalls are likely to close around mid-day. Muslims are not expected to drink alcohol (though you will find alcohol available), eat pork (becoming available for tourists), or expose their bodies.
Hospitality Moroccans are extremely friendly and hospitable, and very generous. It's not uncommon to get invited to dinner upon meeting and chatting with a Moroccan for ten minutes. You may meet people on trains, in restaurants, and even in the street who may give you their phone numbers and insist on visiting them for dinner.
Moroccan Food
Moroccan cuisine is considered one of the most important cuisines in the world. One of the reasons for its importance is its remarkable diversity of influences. In Moroccan dishes, one can trace the country’s long history of colonizers and immigrants who have left their mark in more than one way.
Rabat Rabat is the capital city of Morocco. Over 2 million people live in Rabat, making it the country's second largest city. Rabat is located on the Atlantic ocean, It is where the government is located, as well as the King of Morocco. Rabat has a rich history but is a fairly new capital, the French gave it this status in 1912 and it remained the capital as per the King's wishes, after independence in 1956. Rabat is a very pleasant capital, and not as congested as some other Moroccan cities. The boulevards are wide, the souqs are not too hectic and there's a cosmopolitan feel to the outdoor cafes and welldressed middle classes that live and work here. As with many Moroccan cities, it's divided into the Medina (old-walled city) and the Ville Nouvelle (new city, built by the French).
What to see in Rabat
The Medina Kasbah des Oudaias
Chellah
Hassan Tower
Mawazine Festival
Since 2001, the Festival Mawazine Rythmes du Monde which takes place in Rabat (Morocco), has a very forward openness to a wide variety of cultures by offering to the public a musical experience covering the four corners of the planet. Every year, since already thirteen years, the festival rated among the world's top five allows many moroccan and african artists to play on the same stages as the greatest international stars. This year's edition will take place from May 29th till June 6th and those are some of the artists that will be performing: PHARELL WILLIAMS, SEAN PAUL, AVICII, AKON, USHER and MAROON 5.
AIESEC LC LES AMBASSADEURS AIESEC in Morocco enables young people to have a positive impact on the Moroccan society by preparing them to become future leaders of MOROCCO. AIESEC in MOROCCO has engaged its youth from different backgrounds and made partnerships with several NGOs and corporate sectors across the country to help them inhance their visions, reach their corporate CSR or other social purposes by providing them national and international talents from the AIESEC network. Among the most perfoming LCs that AIESEC in MOROCCO has , is LC Les Ambassadeurs, it is located in Rabat, the capital, and was the first LC created in MOROCCO back in 1995. The office is in IIHEM, a private business school, situated in front of Mega Mall, the biggest mall in Rabat. LC les Ambassadeurs has over 100 members and is one of the strongest LCs in MOROCCO providing quality experiences to its customers.
Our Projects
Ready? Set...Morocco Dates:
May-June-July-August
This is your chance to discover and showcase . This is your chance to travel and through your lenses you display . This is your only chance ! Come visit Morocco through our GCDP program. Charge your cameras and boost your writing skills , cause you’re about to shoot and blog about it . Photographers and Bloggers are welcome on board. Have a nice ride!
Reach 3.0 Dates:
June-July-August
REACH is an educational project that tackles particulary illiteracy as an issue and self awareness generally. 6 weeks full of learning , sharing and enjoying participation by volunteering to give classes and workshops for our youth to be mindful of the globalization that we are living in nowadays. - REACH 3.0 in KENITRA : The Exchange Participants will be brought to : 1- Teach disabled kids ENGLISH AND/ OR FRENCH 2- Participate in the preparation of para-activities with kids such as : Theater 3- Expose one's culture to the kids through games and workshops Do you know why this is the perfect project for you ? Because YOU will get to learn the community work with disabled kids ,how to come with first aid to people in need and get to learn the moroccan culture .
iHEAL Dates:
June-July-August
The exchange participant will be brought to : - Accompany the disabled kids with Kinesitherapy is the therapeutic treatment of disease by passive and active muscular movements It may involve massages, yoga or exercise. -Accompany the disabled kids with Balneotherapy treatment of disease by bathing, involve hot or cold water, massage through moving water, relaxation .
Summer Camps Dates:
July-August
Spend your summer as a camp counselor by helping kids learn English, play sports, go on hikes and plan activities for them, while working with a team of international students. The camps are located in RABAT and the suburbs . The position is full time. You will be living with the other camp counselors inside the camp in a shared room. The activities with the kids include swimming, hiking and groups activities.
Contact us oumnia.sadaouni@aiesec.net walid.semmar@aiesec.net