IDRB Maroc

Union University in Meknes

Union University engineering and biology students recently partnered with IDRB Meknes. The students shared their various skills in engineering and nursing to help and enrich the lives of Moroccans. While here, the team shared science experiments using renewable energy with the children of a local orphanage, a local village school, and with  Ait Umghar association. The ladies taught several health lessons on preventions in these areas as well. They taught lessons on hand washing, teeth brushing, and self breast exam. They handed out over 50 hygiene packets with toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, washcloths, and soap to those that attended the classes. The men also helped a local village association in building a solar powered well for their school.
Renewable Energy Presentations: around 200 children
Women’s Health Lessons: around 50 ladies

Healthcare Lessons in Ait Tislit

Healthcare Classes in Tizitine

IDRB Meknes recently finished a series of healthcare classes in the Tizitine center. The classes consistently had twenty to twenty-five women coming, where they learned about healthy foods, diabetes, high blood pressure, and the importance of clean water, among other health related topics. The classes were taught in the local school each Tuesday afternoon.  In the same region, literacy classes were began through the partnership with IDRB and the Ministry of Education. A national taught these classes with assistance from IDRB and through the financial donations from a visiting association in the States.
Currently, IDRB Meknes is teaching healthcare classes in the surrounding areas of Tizitine. Pictures will be posted soon!

IDRB in Torres

IDRB Hoceima worked in an elementary school in Torres with a group

from Macon County. We did two lessons with the two groups of kids.

One lesson was on taking care of cuts, burns and what to do when you or someone else is choking. The second was on honesty, kindness, respect and responsibility in which several skits were used to demonstrate right and wrong ways to develop learn and practice character. The teachers where very involved with us and there were 70 kids present.

One day in Hoceima

IDRB Hoceima, in cooperation with the Chabab Rif Basket Ball League, had a one day basket ball camp at a local high school. We had 35 boys and girls and we worked on basic basket ball skills for an hour and a half. At the end, we did a character lesson on hard work composed of a drama which was explained by the Moroccan coach who was working with us.

IDRB in Laayoune

IDRB Maroc is pleased to announce Jeff Maxey as Coordinator of IDRB work in the Southern Region. Jeff has served as Director of Education and Training for IDRB Maroc for three years. IDRB is excited to be working in the three southern provinces and expanding our opportunities to work with the people of Morocco.

October, 2008: Association Leadership Training and English Teacher Training in Laayoune and Es-Smara

In October, 2008, a group of educators and business leaders from Kentucky, USA, led seminars and trainings for associational leadership and teachers of English in Laayoune and in Es-Smara. The leadership training included interactive lessons on casting vision, team communication skills, and achieving goals. Participants from over 40 associations shared in these training days. These trainings were conducted in partnership with the Sakia Alhamra Association.

In coordination with the Moroccan Association of Teachers of English (MATE) Laayoune chapter, the Academy of Laayoune, and the Delegue of the Ministry of Education Nationale of Es-Smara, IDRB led a workshop for teachers of English. The participative lesson was on Dr. Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences.

March, 2009: English Teacher Training in Laayoune and Es-Smara

IDRB was pleased to partner with a group of educators from Texas, USA, to present trainings and in-class presentations on the topic of Active Learning, based on Dr. Benjamin Bloom’s Taxonomy. The Laayoune training was conducted at the Academy and allowed time for American and Moroccan educators to interact and share ideas. In Es-Smara, American teachers were able to interact with Moroccan educators and students in English middle school and high school classrooms through observing Moroccan teachers and through teaching English lessons with students. Students also participated in a forum providing the opportunity to ask cultural, educational, and societal questions as participants dialogued about our two countries and cultures.

Basketball in Hoceima

April 13^th – 15th we did a basketball sports camp with children in the city of Beni Bouayash again. IDRB in partnership with the Chabab Riff of Al Hoceima (CRA) basket ball association, worked with approximately 40 kids. There were approximately 20 girls and 20 boys. We worked with the kids on basic fundamentals of basketball like dribbling, passing, defense, shooting and team work. We also presented a skit teaching the kids to be encouraging and to respect other people. IDRB provided four coaches and the CRA association provided two coaches to lead the camp.

Relief in Itzer

Relief in Itzer      February 25-26, 2009

The end of Feb continued to bring great rain to Morocco and in the village of Itzer the rain and snow brought down a number of homes with limited loss of life.  IDRB was able to meet some immediate needs of 25 families directly affected by this great loss.  Packets consisting of food, hygiene, clothing, kitchen supplies, blankets and other supplies were delivered to these families in coordination with the local government, Entraide National, and several other local associations.  What an incredible opportunity to lighten the burden brought on these families by tragedy.

Distribution list for relief in Itzer

Women’s health training

Women’s Health Training

Throughout all of 2009 and the fall of 2008 IDRB has been conducting health training events in the regions of Khenifra and Khemisette.  In Khemisette, Shari Klaassen R.N., has been leading health seminars for rural women in the area of T’zitine.  In an effort to bring community and education together these seminars have been held at one of the local elementary schools in that district.  These events are always surrounded by lots of talk, laughter and tea.  Approximately 10 ladies are normally in attendance.  In February a group of ladies from IDRB led the first health care lesson in Ait Ali ou Daouid.  There were more than 30 ladies in attendance.  The lessons while done in Derija were translated into Tamazight by the local Fiqui’s wife.

Suksu in Khenifra

Suksu in Khenifra              February 12, 2009

This same group then travelled to Khenifra to continue work there with Entraide National of Morocco.  We were pleased once again to work with Mr. Mousawi the director there.  The South Carolina Teachers and IDRB worked together to present three different training seminars.  For the third year in a row Jan Mathias and Carolyn Wince invested in local preschool teachers from the province helping them to develop techniques to improve their classrooms and classroom performance.  Jan and Carolyn have over 60 years teaching experience with young children.   Dr. Laura Mohr worked with local literacy teachers giving them pointers on how to work with adults in a setting where the students have had little to no formal education.   Dr. Mohr has a specialty working with students that have difficulties learning and was able to address a number of needs that these students might encounter.   Ron Friesen, Resident Director for IDRB in Morocco led a local Associational Training activity discussing ideas related to Development versus Relief and how to better plan for successful events.

In all, there were more than 60 participants from various Associations and Entraide itself.  The training event took place that morning taking a break for Suksu and then coming to an end that afternoon.