Earthquake Relief for Rural Moroccan Youth

Shukran! (Arabic term for 'thank you')

At the beginning of the 2024-25 Rotary year, our club embarked on a journey to Morocco. We formed our first-ever Rotary International partnership with the Rotary Club of Rabat Excellence, District 9010. Our hope was to help the victims of the Marrakesh-Safi Earthquake that occurred on September 8, 2023. While our original goal was to provide socks, jackets, and blankets for children who lost their homes before winter, we ultimately adjusted our efforts to match the current needs. These included learning materials for school bags, such as notebooks, pens, erasers, slates, and other essential items necessary for students' daily learning.

Our Public Image Chair Anna began with a summer Zoom meeting with club leaders from the Rotary Club of Rabat Excellence and the Rotary Club of Capitol Hill.

Our fundraising campaign, which took place in July, August, and September 2024, exceeded expectations and helped us fulfill our mission of providing essential items to students in the earthquake-affected province of El Haouz. We had a wonderful time playing trivia and auctioning items to raise money in August at The Corner Pocket, owned and operated by our Club Director, Cheryl Starnes.

Our Public Image Chair spent two weeks in Morocco. During the last part of her trip, she was hosted by the Rotary Club of Rabat Excellence, where they presented her with a check for this joint service project.

The distribution took place at two schools, one of which, Amslane School, is located an hour and a half from the other, Agdour Kik School, with part of the route being unpaved.

1. Amslane School

Number of school bags: 92
Number of blankets: 92
Distribution date: Tuesday, November 5, 2024, with the help of a local association.
2. Agdour Kik School

Number of school bags: 158
Number of blankets: 158
Distribution date: Saturday, November 23, 2024.

The Rotary Club of Rabat Excellence's Club Secretary, Dr. Abir EL KADI, was on site to supervise the distribution.

The total cost of this initiative exceeded the original budget of $6,000, reaching $7,000. This amount covered transport costs, the printing of posters and roll-ups, additional school bags for preschool children at Amslane School, a whiteboard with a cartridge of marker pens, and treats for the children at the second distribution.

The school bags included essential supplies such as notebooks, pens, erasers, slates, and other items necessary for students' daily learning.

Our Service Project lead, and Public Image Chair Anna Barbary would like to extend a heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to this project. Our club generously donated $2,550 to the overall costs of this Service Project. Pictures can be found under our Event Gallery tab.  

We are looking forward to continuing our international partnership with new initiatives in the future.