A green oasis in the alleyways of Casablanca

CASABLANCA – Finally we’re back in Morocco. The tragic events in Paris meant we had to cancel our last trip and, as a result, it’s been a year since we were last in Sidi Moumen, a run-down area on the outskirts of Casablanca.

It’s a delight to see how much good work has been done by our friends on the ground in the intervening time.

A local entrepreneur, who knew that Inter Campus was working on a children’s project, offered to build a synthetic pitch among the council houses and shacks in this suburb. For three days a week, kids and coaches from Inter Campus are able to play on the pitch absolutely free of charge – the surface is hired out for whoever wants to use it for the remaining days and evenings.

In any case, it’s one of the numerous unexpected and heart-warming consequences of our work in environments that are often ignored.

Crowds of girls and boys rush to take part in the sessions held by our coaches Lorenzo and Fabio, whose aim is to allow the kids to have fun at the same time as playing and learning. The children’s families get really involved in the project and it’s great to see so many mums bringing their kids to the pitch and staying to watch the training session at a facility the like of which this area has never seen before.

Many of the coaches and trainers are new to the project because Moroccan law now requires anyone who works with children to hold an educational qualification as a protective measure. Our loca

l contact Said has taken a state-level course to become a coach as well, but to our pride he tells us that he learns much more from watching the Inter Campus staff at work during their visits.

As usual, at the end of our trip Said invited us into his home for a Moroccan meal all together. We exchanged social-media contacts as we said our goodbyes and this will allow us to keep in

contact, especially during the months that lead up to our next visit.

There was a goodbye in store for Wafa as well, our local organiser, and we promised to return for another visit. As we left for home, the joy on the faces of all who we met was the lasting impression.