The Community Service Program

October 2011: The Community Service Program (CSP) recently held workshops on Sunday October 23^rd and Wednesday October 26^th. The entire ALC community was invited to learn more about the program and its mission, as well as listen to students and teachers share the successes of previous activities and outline plans for future projects during the 2011-2012 academic year. In total, eight teachers and staff members along with nearly 30 students of all ages and levels gathered to learn how the ALC is enabling students to support their community while gaining valuable, hands-on experience. Employees from the Ennour association and several of their young local and international volunteers were present to answer questions and give first-hand accounts of their enriching experiences gained while volunteering. The Community Service Program would like to thank everyone who attended the workshops and we look forward to working together this year to better our community.

November 2011: The CSP held two meetings with those of you who are interested in volunteering at one of the associations listed above. The meeting aims to discuss the following points: [Their areas of interests: what association(s) they're interested in volunteering for. Their availability: what days/times work for them to volunteer and how often are they willing to devote to it (once/twice a week/a month...etc)]. The meetings were held on Wednesday (Nov 16th) from 6-7pm and another one on Sunday (Nov 20th) from 12.30-1.30pm

December 2011:

On December 04^th, the Community Service Program (CSP) at the American Language Center (ALC) was busy heightening social awareness and expanding its reach within the community. As per its 2011-2012 program initiative, the CSP started the term with a focus on senior citizens.  On December 11^th, the CSP held an afternoon of awareness to bring to light the many issues faced by the elderly community in Morocco. Over thirty concerned citizens of all ages and backgrounds gathered to learn more about this increasingly grave, and unfortunately rather taboo, matter.

Mr. Lahcen Al Idrissi, the President of the Hay Nahda nursing home, began the day with a lecture presenting the work and activities done by the organization for its elderly clients. The very thorough and informative address was followed by an empowering PowerPoint presentation by Mrs. Tsouli from Centre Amal, an organization which supports a wide range of underprivileged, neglected categories of Moroccan population, including the elderly in Rabat. A round table discussion about governmental and citizen action regarding the support and protection of the elderly was then led by journalist Khira Arab, whose personal blog (nnonjenesuispasdansloubli.c.la) is dedicated to the elderly in Morocco. After a coffee break, the Movie Director, Mr. Hassane Dahani, presented his film “Le Pain Amer,” which artistically displays several social dilemmas faced not only by Moroccan senior citizens but their loved ones also. The day was ended by an overall discussion about all issues presented and what we, as individuals, could do to serve. Following the awareness day, the Community Service program members and the ALC students will visit the Hay Nahda nursing home and Centre Amal to act on what they have learned at the day of awareness and help this neglected community.

______________________________________________________________________________________________

Please see the ALC Community Service Program’s Facebook group page for more information and updates: : https://www.facebook.com/groups/ALCCSP/

Bulletin d’information

Le programme du service public “Community Service Program (CSP) que le Centre Américain de Rabat offre en collaboration avec ses étudiants et ses employés a démarré ses activités pour l’année scolaire 2011-2012. Ainsi, le CSP a organisé deux ateliers le 23 et le 26 octobre 2011 dans le but de :

• Partager notre expérience de l’année dernière 2010-2011.
• Sensibiliser et initier le bénévolat d’ordre humanitaire aux jeunes étudiants.
• Informer les intéressés sur notre plan d’action 2011-2012.

Ainsi, durant cette session d’automne, et en collaboration avec « l’Association des Jeunes Chercheurs en Informatique et Télécommunications » (AJCIT), au Faculté de Sciences, Université Mohamed V à Rabat, le CSP a traité le thème de la situation des personnes âgées au Maroc. Dans ce sens, nous avaos organisé une journée de sensibilisation (04 décembre) : un débat sur la problématique de la situation de personnes âgées au Maroc avec la participation des invités spécialisés dans ce domaine.

En parallèle de ces activités, nous encadrons les étudiants désirant participer au travail bénévole humanitaire en les aidants à s’intégrer dans une des organisations suivantes :

ü      Association Ennour – Salé.

ü      Centre Social Kariat – Salé.

ü      Dar Lekbira- Kenitra.

ü       Association de Parents et Tuteurs d’Enfants Trisomiques (APTET) – Rabat.

ü      Collectif Autisme Maroc- Rabat.

Le CSP organisé deux réunions avec les personnes intéressées à se porter volontaires à l’une des organisations citées en haut. Les réunions ont eu lieu le mercredi 16 novembre et le dimanche 20 novembre. Le but de ces réunions était de discuter la disponibilité des volontaires et voir comment contribuer au travail social communautaire. Ces réunions ont été suivies par des visites aux associations citées en haut, et ce pendant la semaine du 22 au 25 novembre.

Pour plus d’information sur le Community Service Program au centre américain, veuillez-vous consulter notre groupe à Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/groups/ALCCSP/

The Community Service Program

Activities for the winter term 2012

1. Visits to the elderly homes; Hay Nahda nursing home & Centre Amal during the last week of January.
   1. A Book drive:  Donate new or used English, French, and Arabic books to benefit the children at Centre Social Kariat, Association Ennour and Dar Lekbira.
   2. Awareness day about Single women & children in precarious situations: This event will be organized in collaboration with the American women association and the single women’s association in Casa along with Dar Lekbira since it will be tackling the issue of abandoned/street children, too. (the first week of March)

4. A visit to the single women’s association : around the second week of March.

THE 2012 MIDDLE EAST PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE (MEPI)

FOR STUDENT LEADERS PROGRAM

The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Rabat is seeking candidates for the 2012 Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) for Student Leaders program. University level students between 18 and 24 years of age who have a good command of English; who demonstrate leadership through academic work, community involvement and extracurricular activities; who have a strong interest in civic engagement and learning about the United States and its societal institutions; who have never traveled to the United States, are invited to apply for this program.

The program offers up to seven (7) scholarships for Moroccan students currently at university or a higher educational institution. The application deadline is Tuesday, January 31, 2012.

Program Overview:

The MEPI for Student Leaders Program will take place in an American University for six (6) weeks, from June 26 to August 7, 2012. The program is designed around the theme of how leadership is conceived and practiced in different capacities (governmental, community, civil society, private sector, etc.) and will address themes including conflict resolution and program dynamic, the role of civil society in the democratic process, and change management.. Student leaders will have a unique opportunity to learn about and discuss values, issues, and institutions that have played important roles throughout the history of the United States.

Participants in this program will live on a U.S. college campus, attend lectures, roundtable discussions, and site visits with academics and civic leaders, meet ordinary American citizens in a variety of cities and towns, engage in local community service activities and, most importantly, have the opportunity to discover the United States and its diverse cultures for themselves. They will be coming from Morocco, Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Syria, Tunisia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jerusalem, Libya and Yemen.

All participant costs, including program administration, international and domestic travel

and ground transportation, book, cultural, mailing and incidental allowances, housing and subsistence will be paid by the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) office.

Candidate Qualifications:

The Selection preference will be given to candidates with limited or no travel experience outside of Morocco. MEPI office will not accept candidates who have traveled to the United States. Participants must demonstrate proficiency in conversational and written English. They may be in any field of specialization, must be prepared to engage seriously in class discussions and other activities, able to inform and educate Americans about the Moroccan culture and society in different activities and in public presentations.

Competition is open to all applicants who meet the following minimum criteria:

a. Are 18 to 24 years of age;
b. Demonstrate English language ability;
c. Are committed to returning to their home country/community following completion of the program;
d. Demonstrate strong leadership potential;
e. Indicate a serious interest in learning about the United States;
f. Have a sustained high level of academic achievement;
g. Demonstrate a commitment to civic engagement;
h. Have no prior travel experience in the United States and limited to no study or travel experience outside their home country;
i. Are willing and able to participate fully in intensive academic;
community service, and educational travel activities;
j. Are comfortable with campus life, sharing living accommodations while traveling with a multinational group of participants from the Middle East and North Africa region and with U.S. citizens, and making adjustments to cultural and social practices different from those of their home countries/communities; and
k. Are comfortable spending a portion of Ramadan in the U.S.

HOW TO APPLY?

Applications must be submitted by e-mail to rabatyouth by Tuesday, January 31, 2012 with the subject name of “2012 MEPI Student Leaders”. No late applications will be accepted.

CONTACT

For more information, please contact the Public Affairs Section at rabatyouth or call 0537-66-8187.

Etudier aux Etats-Unis avec le programme NESA UGRAD !
NESA UGRAD est un programme financ par le Dpartement dEtat amricain. Cest une opportunit pour des tudiants marocains brillants, ayant entre 18 et 25 ans, de faire une anne dtudes de premier cycle dans une universit amricaine. NESA UGRAD est un programme dtudes qui ne donne pas accs un diplme. Cest une exprience acadmique, une immersion culturelle et le tremplin parfait pour de futures tudes de troisime cycle aux Etats-Unis. Tlchargez le formulaire NESA UGRAD du site de lU.S. Embassy Rabat, contactez-nous sur Facebook pour toute question spcifique la comptition au Maroc, et visitez www.nesaugrad.org <http://www.nesaugrad.org> pour plus dinformation et pour vous inscrire en ligne. ***Le dernier dlai pour sinscrire est le Dimanche 22 janvier 2012. Quattendez-vous ? Inscrivez-vous ds maintenant !

NESA UGRAD!
NESA UGRAD 18 25 . NESA UGRAD . NESA UGRAD <http://morocco.usembassy.gov/> ء <http://www.facebook.com/#!/USEmbassyRabat> . www.nesaugrad.org <http://www.nesaugrad.org> .*** 22 *** !

NESA UGRAD Morocco 2012-13.pdf

Posted on November 29, 2011

Jesse Mandell, Hosna el Hadi and Noureddine Ismag

At first glance, a keyboard player, an African drummer and an oud player from Fez may not appear to have much in common – until you hear them play together. The result is magical.

The three musicians – Jesse Mandell from Minnesota, Nourredine Ismag from Cornwall in Canada and Hosna el Hadi from Fez – combine their talents to create original and enchanting sounds this Saturday December 3 at 7pm in a free concert at a new venue in the old Medina.

The concert Songs for Fez features the three playing together and solo, while photographer Omar Chennafi and members of the ALC-ALIF Photography Club provide a series of images as visual metaphors for what is happening on stage.

“We play together at the beginning and end of the hour long concert, and in the middle we will play solo pieces,” says Nourredine.”We start with a piece Jesse wrote.”

Jesse’s opening piece is influenced by Brasilian Bossa Nova, and later they play an Andalusian style piece of he wrote. The twenty-two year old is currently a student at the Arabic Language Institute in Fez. “I’ve played the piano since I was five,” Jesse says. “I grew up learning classical and jazz and then really got into ragtime when I was fourteen…All the styles reflect different emotions and have a really different feel.” Nowadays Jesse meshes ragtime, rock and hip hop to create his own unique style of playing.

Nourredine, 30, is also in Fez temporarily, accompanying his wife who is studying at ALIF. “I originally come from Marrakesh and I’ve been living in Canada for four years,” he says. Nourredine started playing djembe and conga drums at school and later joined a band called General Electric, which has become well known around Ottowa and Toronto for their upbeat mix of blues, jazz and funk. “The first time I played with Jesse and Hosna it sounded really good, so we decided to do something together,” he says.

Hosna, 27, is a music teacher based in Fez. She has been a soloist on the oud and guitar since she was thirteen. “I love it…I’ve done a lot of concerts,” she said. While Hosna often performs classical oud, she is enjoying the musical collaboration with Jesse and Nourredine. “I like playing jazz and lots of other types of music,” she says. “It feels more free.”

Photos will be projected behind the musicians as they play. “Everyone has selected photos they want to play with (when they do their solo pieces), says photographer and concert organiser Omar Chennafi. “They help to create an atmosphere; a feeling. The elements come together to create harmony.”

Songs for Fez is sponsored by the AmericanLanguageCenter and Arabic Language Institute in Fez & Cafe Clock.

The concert will be held in the newly renovated riad which is the Sidi Muhammad ben Yousef cultural complex, in Layounne in the Fes Medina. To get there, go down the hill beyond Riad Alkantara and keep turning left. Go via Oued Souafine and left onto Akbat El Firane. The complex is on the left, just down the hill from the College Sidi Muhammad El Fassi.

Who: Open to all
When: Saturday December 3 at 7pm
Where: Sidi Muhammad ben Yousef cultural complex (open air)
Getting there: Meet in front of Hotel Batha at 6:30 and a guide will show you.
Cost: Free