Community Engagement in Meknes, Morocco with WorldStrides

I had an amazing time on my service-learning + study abroad program in Meknes, Morocco with ISA! The local organization I was placed with served to help women continue or complete their education, as well as served children and young adults alike in learning English, tech skills, etc. I not only taught a weekly English class to local Moroccan students (ages 7-15), but I helped support my organization through clerical tasks, DIY projects like repainting the classroom, and developing and maintaining their social media presence. The ISA Meknes program is a fantastic one in terms of how great the included trips/excursions are, but the resident staff are beyond helpful, caring, and dedicated to helping students, and the service-learning team is just as committed to helping us have a good experience. The staff at my organization treated me like family and were flexible with my hours, letting me work from home, and if I did come in, we often ended the day with tea and snacks :-) Best volunteer/work experience I've had throughout my time in college!

Through the ISA Service-Learning Program I was able to volunteer at the Rita Zniber Foundation, an organization that provides a home for abandoned children in Meknes, Morocco. The kids that I worked with at the foundation were some of the strongest people I'v ever come across. Although they've had to endure a lot of misery and trauma at such a young age, they still choose to persevere and be joyful. I was greatly inspired by all of the kids and staff at Rita Zniber. I will always cherish the ISA experience for allowing me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and work in an environment that I would not have otherwise had the opportunity to work in. In addition to the volunteer experience, we went on weekly trips to some of the most amazing/beautiful places in Morocco. It was a great balance of work and play and I will cherish my abroad experience for a lifetime.