General Impression
Overall Rating: / 10
Absolutely loved my first volunteer experience abroad! At first it seemed like there wasn't a clear plan on where we would be helping but perhaps that was just Ali's way of giving us the flexibility to work on a project we feel strongly about. Once it was confirmed that we would be working with young cancer patients at the hospital, everything was smooth sailing. The kids were so much fun to work with and I learned a lot from these highly intelligent boys and girls. The typical time spent at the hospital was only 3-4 hrs/day which is my only regret, wish I had more time with the amazing kids. The hospital staff was also very kind and gave us a detailed tour of the facility, something they didn't have to do.Country
I absolutely loved Rabat! Staying in the heart of the city, Rabat Medina, is an experience I'll never forget. Everyone was so friendly and nice it really made you feel welcome. Took a day trip to Casablanca which was okay. Casablanca seemed more commercialized which may suit better to some but it wasn't as appealing to me. Last couple of days of my trip were spent in Marrakesh which is by far my least favorite city of the three cities. There were a few very genuinely nice people we met in Marrakesh but it seemed like a majority were saw us as tourists with money (something Ali warned us about prior to our travel). Overall however, loved the country and would definitely go back if life permits.
Project & Staff
As mentioned in the "General Impression" section, the project was a amazing and only regret I have is I could not give more time to the kids. As far as staff goes, let me start with Ali, the main man! Super nice dude, very accommodating, very honest and someone who has his heart in the right place. He gave us the flexibility to choose how we wanted to help, he helped us create a schedule to not only site-see Rabat but also helped plan a day trip to Casablanca, and finally, he helped with our Marrakesh travel arrangements at end of project. Ali's dedication to the work he is doing is phenomenal and I wish him all the success. We were accompanied by Leila during our day-to-day project outings and she was amazing as well. Given how none of us spoke Arabic/French, we really needed Leila to help get past the language barrier and she was with us the whole time. Her restaurant recommendations for lunch were also great, its like she just knew what we needed. Both Ali and Leila are fantastic people who are doing great work!
Tips
Be open to trying new things, be daring enough to step outside of your comfort zone and what you will discover about other cultures and even yourself is something you will fall in love with. Put your trust in the recommendations and tips provided by Ali/Leila, you wont regret it!