A Moment With
How does your team help you in achieving the goals of Teach4Morocco ?
Our goal is clear . How can we use our best skills and knowledge to participate in solving some of the educational issues of remote Moroccans ? We work on a very small scale . We truly believe that while some educational challenges need cutting edge knowledge to be solved , many others can be solved through the commitment of ordinary citizens .
Share a few important lessons that you have learnt since you started .
When we started , we worked mostly on school infrastructure . Our first project consisted of renovating a school . While these types of projects are necessary , they do not allow us to utilise our best skills . These projects are more symbolic but do not result in core change . Over the last five years , we adjusted the nature of our work based on new knowledge . We learnt that strong foundations are a prerequisite for success in school . We started to work in the early childhood education sector . We learnt that early grade reading is a real challenge and a reason for failure among many students . We are trying to work with people in the field to come up with customised solutions to their needs . No project will succeed without the full commitment of our local partners . We only work in villages that we are asked to .
What are three ways that you hope that your organisation will help in transforming education in Morocco ?
Our organisation is small and still has a lot to learn . However , there are many problems that we can solve by our collective intelligence as a society . There are many problems in education including infrastructure , sanitation and affordable tutoring that we can help with , as citizens . We hope to create a platform for ordinary citizens striving for a better education , to do something for education , no matter how small it is . Our collective commitment can be powerful !
Second , while fighting for the rights of access to quality education in rural / remote areas , we shouldn ’ t undermine the pockets of poverty in urban settings . Our efforts can be directed that way , as well .
Finally , education doesn ’ t always lead to learning . Considering how fast the world changes , it is important to not only focus on education , but to also broaden the scope of our work to include learning . Starting with strong literacy foundations to technology and agility . We still have a long way to go .
Congratulations on being listed among the Most Powerful Arab Women of 2016 by Arabian Business Magazine . What does this accolade mean to you ?
It was truly symbolic for us to be featured in Arabian Business Magazine . Up until that day we thought Teach4Morocco was only known to a small group of people . It was humbling and an encouraging recognition of our efforts .
What is the best advice that you have received and how has it helped you ?
My father always told me that ‘ living for a cause is better than living for oneself ’. It gives meaning to our lives . We sometime underestimate our power as ordinary citizens in bringing social justice . If something matters to you , roll up your sleeves and get to work . No matter how small your contribution is - just do something and get better at it !
What do you do for fun ?
I travel whenever I can . I have also been an amateur choir singer for some time . Whenever I move somewhere , I look for a choir to join . It instils a magical sense of belonging to a new place .
Members of the Teach4Morocco team busy at work . Photo credit - Maha Laziri .