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Educational & Humanitarian Initiative: Morocco

Thursday, October 15th, 2009
Marrakech, Morocco

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

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

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

A young boy from the neighboring slum at the Sidi Moumen Cultural Center

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The School of St. Jude in Tanzania

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Barbara Eshman of the Inverell, Australia Chapter wrote the other day to tell us about their chapter’s most recent humanitarian project.  After a recent meeting with Gemma Sisia, founder of the School of St. Jude in Tanzania, the chapter learned of the school’s need for funds to purchase text books.  At the next chapter meeting, members resolved to make a contribution of $500 to make the purchase of text books possible.

Gemma Sisia, a young woman from a sheep farm in Australia, opened the School of St. Jude in 2002.    It has since grown to serve nearly 1,200 children with 130 teachers and a staff of 200.  Thanks to sponsors from all over the world, more than 90% of the children receive a totally free education.  Sponsors cover the costs of education as well as uniforms, supplies, transportation and meals.

PTPI’s Inverell, Australia Chapter has long had a connection with Gemma Sisia (who went to school in Inverell) and the school.  They nominated Gemma Sisia for PTPI’s Make a Difference Award in 2006.  She returned to Australia for PTPI’s Worldwide Conference, where she accepted the award and spoke to conference attendees.

In 2008 PTPI led a Humanitarian and Cultural Mission to Tanzania, which included a visit to the School of St. Jude.  They took a tour of the school, visited classrooms and enjoyed lunch with the students.  A special highlight was meeting Calvin Elias, the student PTPI has sponsored since 2006.

Calvin, the wonderful student PTPI sponsors at the School of St. Jude

Calvin, the wonderful student PTPI sponsors at the School of St. Jude

Paul and Karen Melnick, delegates on PTPI's mission to Tanzania, pose with students at the School of St. Jude

Paul and Karen Melnick, delegates on PTPI's mission to Tanzania, pose with students at the School of St. Jude

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Posted in Changing the World | 3 Comments »

Lending a Hand at Opportunity Village

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Educational.  Cultural.  Humanitarian.  Three words that sum up PTPI activities.  At PTPI’s 2009 Americas Regional Meeting in Las Vegas, delegates showed their dedication to humanitarian projects by spending a morning volunteering at Opportunity Village.  They also presented the organization with a monetary contribution.  Special thanks to longtime PTPI family member (and Board member) Anita Manuel for her especially generous donation.

Global volunteers at Opportunity Village

Global volunteers at Opportunity Village

Opportunity Village was founded in 1954 by a small group of families who wanted to improve the lives of their children with intellectual disibilities.  Did you know that people with intellectual disabilities are the largest disability group in the world and 33% of people with intellectual disibilities become disabled after birth due to accident or illness?

Over the years, Opportunity Village has become Nevada’s largest not-for-profit community rehabilitation program.  They serve more than 3,000 people each year.  Opportunity Village helps those with disabilites develop job skills that allow them to live a more normal life, help cover expenses and expand their life experiences.  Thanks to Opportunity Village, hundreds of people with disabilities are learning vocational skills and being placed in jobs throughout the community.

PTPI members split into groups

PTPI members split into groups and were assigned to various tasks. Some were outside, cleaning and repairing lights on the carousel that is part of the Magical Forest. During the holiday season, people come from all over to see the lights and displays inside the Magical Forest, Opportunity Village's largest fundraiser. Other members spent time assisting Opportunity Village clients at their jobs, and another group simply sat and held the hands of clients whose disabilites require a great deal of care.

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