Child sponsorship update from Marrakesh (Aït Ourir), Morocco

Update for child sponsors from the SOS Children's Village Aït Ourir, near Marrakesh, Morocco from Summer 2008.

The end of 2007 the educators and SOS mothers of the SOS Children’s Village of Aït Ourir organised a great party to celebrate the New Year. It was an occasion to share joy and amusement with the children. The village children and our adolescents also made cards by hand to wish their mothers and their sponsors a very happy 2008 full of health and happiness.

During the January school vacation, the village’s entire educational team worked together to offer the children a programme that would distract them from the monotony of the school routine. The children benefited from many fun activities as well as educational trips. The village’s younger children went with our educator to Agadir to take part in a project related to the social integration of young people. The SOS families also organised trips to Oukeimeden, a small mountain village about 60 km from Aït Ourir where the children were able to play in the snow and learn to ski.

All throughout the semester our children benefited from educational activities that facilitate their personal development and fulfilment. In their free time, they regularly participate in the various workshops proposed in the village such as martial arts, dance, music, art or woodworking.

The village also celebrated various holidays, World Women’s Day, for example, during which the children made paper roses for their mothers with the help of the educator. This seemingly innocent gesture was quite symbolic and showed just how marvellous and indispensable their mothers are in their eyes. The children also celebrated religious holidays such as the Aid (feast of the sheep), well known for its special rituals.

The sacred month of Ramadan during which all Muslims fast was also respected. The children who are old enough to understand the symbolic, religious and philosophical significance of this month also fasted. All the children enjoy the daily ritual of breaking the fast (Ftour) at sundown and the delicious dishes that are served.

Achoura was another special time during which the girls like to put henna on their hands and prepare pastries and the boys show off their djellabas. The holiday was celebrated at night. Girls and boys, the oldest and the youngest, came together to sing and dance in the streets.

The village children who enjoy sports had the chance to go to a football match played by the Raja Club of Casablanca. The outing was part of a programme organised to raise awareness of environmental issues.

Finally, our children had the honour of welcoming 100 children from a private school in Marrakech to the village. They spent a very enjoyable day together playing and getting to know each other. It was an important occasion for the school children to learn about the difficulties that other children who don’t have the chance to come from a stable family environment have to face. We also welcomed visitors from the SOS children’s village in Marley, France. Together all the children participated in a rally in around Aït Ourir during which they were able to share their experiences and have fun. It was also an unforgettable experience because for most of the children it was their first contact with foreigners.

Dear Sponsor, please know that we are continually touched by your support and thank you sincerely for your generosity.