Child sponsorship update from Imzouren, Morocco

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Imzouren, Morocco from December 2007

On the occasion of the new year, we would like to take the opportunity to thank you warmly for your loyalty and your noble contributions and to send you the affection of all the children and our best wishes for 2008.

During the second semester of 2007, the village welcomed four more children, a girl and three boys, and eleven children with health problems were transferred temporarily to Casablanca where they will stay until the end of the year in order to benefit from regular medical attention. Therefore the village currently houses 98 children including 46 girls and 52 boys.

During the months of July and August, all of our SOS mothers left the village with their children aged 8 and under to spend two weeks on holiday. Each family independently chose their destination and their period of stay in various village-style resorts. Our families were attracted by El Jadida, Mohammedia and Assilah and had a very nice time at the seaside. The older children attended summer camps organised by various association in Saïdia, Imouzzar, Mohammedia and El Jadida. Eight pre-adolescents participated in social workshops and spent this special time with host families in Ain Louh in the Moyen Atlas region.

The new school year began in September. Three of the children were enrolled for the first time in our pre-school, eight in elementary school and eight in middle school. These last eight would normally be oriented towards the Youth houses SOS but due to the reconstruction of various academic institutions that had been damaged by the earthquake of 2004, we decided to keep them in the village until their completion of middle school. The three sections of the pre-school are attended by 22 children from the village and 83 from neighbouring communities. 11 elementary school classes and 3 educational workshops serve 48 SOS children and 272 from the communities surrounding the village.

Events at Imzouren

In addition to school, our children participate in various athletic, cultural and artistic activities in different clubs outside the village as well as inside the village workshops. Games, competitions and other programmes are including a « kermess » were also organised for the enjoyment of our children.

During the month of Ramadan, the village organised an evening ftour (breaking of the fast) for the elderly residents of a local reitrement home, and our children were very happy to entertain the guests throughout the evening, to take care of them and to share with them a special henna ceremony.

In an atmosphere of joy, competition and celebration, the village participated during the month of Septembre in the World Games 2007 in celebration of World Peace Day. Various local associations were invited to the village to raise awareness of the importance of this day.

One of our most important ongoing activities is the search for the natural families of our children. Our social worker works tirelessly to make this possible and thanks to her many of the village’s children have been able to establish contact with their families. To maintain and strengthen these relationships, two meetings were organised at the village between the SOS mothers and the biological families of the children.

In conclusion, we thank you, dear Sponsor, for everything you have done to bring smiles to the faces of our children and we wish you are sincere best wishes for the New Year 2008.

Marzouq El Hani
Village Director