Marrakech, Morocco
A total of 41 delegates departed for Marrakech, Morocco on October 8, 2009 to take part in PTPI’s latest Educational & Humanitarian Initiative. They are spending ten days there, visiting not only Marrakech, but Casablanca, Rabat and Tangier as well. The group received a true Moroccan welcome during an evening at Chez Ali, experiencing authentic Berber tribal music and entertainment from dancers, musicians, acrobats, horsemen and magicians.
While still in Marrakech, the delegation also visited the Dar Albir Oua Ihsane Marrakech, a multi-functional center for young disadvantaged children between the ages of 12 and 18. The center provides the opportunity for these children to finish their studies and receive training to qualify for a chosen profession, thereby ensuring that they can live a decent life. On October 12, the delegation traveled to Casablanca to meet Mary Jean Eisenhower and enjoy dinner with PTPI’s Casablanca and Mohammedia Chapters. They spent the evening learning about the chapters’ local programs and activities.
Mary Jean Eisenhower with friends from PTPI's Casablanca Chapter
The next day, the group headed to Villa Mirador, a place where historically significant political summits have been hosted. It has welcomed Churchill, Roosevelt and de Gaulle. Today it serves as the residence of the U.S. Consul General. Mrs. Elisabeth Millard, the current U.S. Consul General in Morocco, welcomed the group and shared a few special historical facts about Villa Mirador and its significance prior to a briefing on U.S.-Moroccan economic and political relations. Dinner that evening was at Rick’s Cafe, a recreation of the bar made famous by the movie Casablanca.
Boubker Mazoz, founder of the Sidi Moumen Cultural Center
On October 14, before traveling to Rabat, the delegation headed to the Sidi Moumen Cultural Center in a low-income neighborhood in Casablanca. The center serves youth in the community with a computer center, tutoring and a theater. It is designed to protect the children living in the slums from being persuaded to turn to drugs or religious extremism by providing them the tools to learn and use their creativity. They heard a presentation on the center and had an opportunity to meet and interact with the students. Mary presented an award to Boubker Mazoz, founder of the center, and also presented a donation on behalf of PTPI and the delegation.
Stay tuned for more information on their adventure after the delegates return from Morocco! Special thanks to Karen Melnick for taking the time to send these wonderful photos.
A young boy from the neighboring slum at the Sidi Moumen Cultural Center
Tags: Community Chapters, Educational & Humanitarian Initiative, Humanitarian, Mary Jean Eisenhower, Morocco, Travel
Interesting reading of the humanitarian effort in this beautiful country