Overview
Volunteering Solutions provides placements to volunteers who are looking to work for children in childcare centers, NGOs that help street children and run kindergartens for disadvantaged children in Rabat. There are a huge number of children living in poverty and are often deprived of education and good life. As a volunteer in the childcare program in Morocco, you would get to work with children ranging from toddlers to young adults around 16 years old.
Volunteering for children in Morocco at these childcare homes is a challenging and satisfying experience at the same time. The contribution of volunteers is helpful at two levels. Firstly, they can help with daily tasks at the center which would, in turn, help the staff. Secondly, they can spend time with the children and give them much-needed love and attention, which they are deprived of. Our volunteers are looked upon as role models by these children and make a positive impact on their lives.
Program Requirements
Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the time of joining the project. Participants should have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. Volunteers need to be flexible, open-minded and have a passion for working with children. You should also be proactive and have the ability to take initiative All volunteers must provide a clean criminal background check report prior to joining the program.
Volunteer Roles & Responsibilities
Joining a volunteer project for childcare in Morocco brings along a high level of responsibility and dedication. Volunteer, typically, will be required to execute the following tasks;
- Help children in painting, doing and arranging activities, doing art & craft, teaching basic English/ Maths/ French etc.
- Spend time with these children and play with them to help them and make them feel wanted.
- Engage the children in whatever activity or skill you possess, such as dancing, singing, painting.
- Work with children with special needs and spend time with them, playing, organizing, teaching and doing art & craft activities, singing and dancing.
Volunteer Work Schedule
Volunteering Solutions provide accommodation in Morocco with a local host family or at a volunteer house in Rabat. The schedule for the volunteers remains as follows;
- Sunday - Arrival at Rabat
- Monday - Orientation + introduction to the placement (commute + local staff + kids +
- places to eat, etc.). An orientation session will be conducted by the local coordinator, covering topic areas; such as safety, culture, language, places to visit, behavior, food, and other suggestion over things to do in Morocco.
- Tuesday to Fri - Volunteer work
- Breakfast - 08:00 am onwards (provided at the accommodation)
- Leave for the project - 09:00 am
- Working hours at the placement - 10:00 am to 05:00 pm
- Lunch - 12:00 pm onwards (volunteers need to manage lunch on their own)
- Dinner - 08:00 pm onwards (provided at the accommodation)
The same volunteer work schedule continues from the second week onwards
Weekends - Free to explore the city, and do activities such as;
Travel with their other volunteers to Fez, Marrakech, Chefchouan Marrakech or the Merzouga the desert. Explore the world's heritage sites of Rabat such as Hassan Tower, Kasbah Oudaya, Chellah, the beach, the Souks inside the Medina and more
Note: Please note, the schedule may vary depending on the particular project the volunteer is participating on.
Living
Stay in Rabat is as good as it can get, VolSol volunteers get a chance to live with the local host families, experience their culture and cuisines. As far as airport transfers, food and city break trips are concerned, VolSol facilitates those for you.
Airport Transfer
Volunteers are picked up from the airport (in Rabat) or the bus terminal / Train Station in Rabat and are transferred to their home stay accommodations. For those volunteers arriving at Casablanca, you can take the train from the airport to Rabat Ville train station directly.
Accommodation
Volunteers in Rabat project have the option of staying in the volunteer house accommodation or at a host family accommodation. While staying at the volunteer house accommodation would be a great experience as you would meet other likeminded participants from around the world, the host family accommodation would be a great cultural immersion as well.
The volunteer house accommodation has five rooms which are shared between the participants. The accommodation is located in a very safe and calm area. The house has a big kitchen and showers for the volunteer use with a terrace as well. The volunteer house is merely 10-15 minutes distance from some of the projects where our volunteers work. The house is equipped with Wifi internet as well however it can be intermittent.
The Riad is located in the Medina area and all the volunteer projects and tourist sites are located within close proximity
Orientation
All volunteers are given an orientation and briefing on arrival. The session shall be conducted by the local coordinator and shall cover important topics about your program,your roles and responsibilities, things to do, safety guidelines, transportation, places to visit, culture and traditions and basic do’s and dont’s.
Meals
2 Moroccan meals (Breakfast and dinner) will be provided in this project. Typical dinner meals include Couscous, Meat, Bread, Soup, Salad, Olives etc. Breakfast usually comprises of Tea, Coffee, Bread, Yoghurt and Cereals whereas dinner includes a traditional Moroccan dish.Volunteers need to purchase their own lunch. There are plenty of restaurants in the Medina area or near your project.Eating out is not very expensive and there are plenty of options for you to choose from.
During your Free Time
During the weekdays volunteers usually enjoy roaming around the Medina area where the volunteer Riad is located. You will be located in the heart of the Old quarter area in Rabat which is characterized by small winding alleys and traditional markets. You can visit the Le Tour Hassan mosque or explore the Kasbah Les Oudaias area in Rabat as well. On the weekends volunteers head out further afield to places such as Fez, Marrakech or the desert area.
Program Cost
Please Note: -An application fee of $229 is charged over and above the program fee as an application payment. (A 4% international banking fee is charged at the time of payment)
What are you Paying for?
- 24 hrs Assistance and support from VS Staff
- Comprehensive Pre- Departure Information
- Pickup from Rabat International Airport or Rabat Ville Train Station and transfer to accommodation
- Orientation on arrival
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Internet access at local office
- Certificate Of Completion (Upon Request)
What's NOT included?
- Airfare
- Visa and Visa extension fee
- Airport taxes
- Local Transportation
- Any personal expenses
Program Dates
Months | 2023 | 2024 |
January | 08152229 | 07142128 |
February | 05121926 | 04111825 |
March | 05121926 | 0310172431 |
April | 0209162330 | 07142128 |
May | 07142128 | 05121926 |
June | 04111825 | 0209162330 |
July | 0209162330 | 07142128 |
August | 06132027 | 04111825 |
September | 03101724 | 0108152229 |
October | 0108152229 | 06132027 |
November | 05121926 | 03101724 |
December | 031017 | 0108152229 |
FAQ's
FAQ's Application and Program Details
It is advised to apply for the projects once the volunteering/ traveling dates are decided as there are limited spots available. The application fee is valid for one full year and can be sent earlier than the desired year of volunteering for timely confirmation of the seat. As soon as you decide the travel dates, we suggest you apply for the program and hold your spot. We generally follow the first come first serve rule.
Usually, it takes around 10-12 working days for the application to be processed and placement to be confirmed. After we review your CV and documents your booking is confirmed and the booking confirmation is updated in your My Account and you can view the information in your account. The application acceptance depends on the availability of seats in the project as well as the eligibility criteria of the program (age, skills and experience etc.).
Below are the necessary requirements to participate in the Rabat, Morocco volunteer projects:
Volunteers must be 18 years or older at the time of joining the project.
Need to have an open mind and flexible attitude for working in a new and different environment. Morocco is a country of different culture and traditions, though it is modernized, the cultural sensitivities need to be kept in mind before volunteering in Morocco.
The volunteers should bring energy and enthusiasm to make a difference.
Volunteers need to have Clean Criminal Background Check Report for the childcare projects.
Knowledge of Arabic / French for the Women Empowerment and NGO Support projects.
Participants must be in good health.
Yes, you are welcome to take part in Morocco Volunteer Program as part of a group. We welcome families, friends, high school students, college/university and corporate groups to volunteer together in the programs. Volunteering Solutions Morocco Program has hosted student groups as well as families coming to volunteer in the programs.
Yes, most definitely you can, as we believe every participant brings something new to the project. If you do not have previous experience, we offer you the opportunity to have a great start with us. We make international volunteering easy – not only are our Volunteer Abroad opportunities rooted in offering you extensive support, but they are also very affordable.
Our programs are located in Rabat, which is the capital of Morocco and also its third largest city. The city offers a great mix of modern and traditional cultures. The Medina is the old city area and most of our projects are located there, along with sister city of Sale. Medina has still managed to keep its old traditions, customs, and cultures intact. The moment you step into Medina, you would feel you are closer to Moroccan culture. Most houses in the Medina area maintain the old world charm. Most of our host families are also located in the Medina area and this would give you a great chance to understand what Moroccan culture has to offer.
All volunteers need to arrive at Rabat–Salé Airport (Airport Code: RBA) on the program start date i.e Sunday.
If you are unable to find flights on the scheduled for the arrival dates, please get in touch with Volunteering Solutions team and we would be happy to provide you the pickup and accommodation from a different date depending on your flight schedule. You will need to pay extra charges for the accommodation depending on the number of days you arrive before the program start date.
A brief orientation would be conducted on the same or the next day where you will also be shown the area around the accommodations, the nearest ATM, market, and will be given safety guidelines as well as information about your project.
Depending on the project, volunteers will work during the week from Monday- Friday for 5-6 hrs every day. You will have the weekends free, so you can travel on weekends. However, volunteers need to be flexible, open minded and understand that work requirements can change as well on certain occasions.
Flights and Visa
All enrolled participants are provided information on the appropriate visa requirements for Morocco in the Pre-departure manual. You can also contact your Pre-departure point of contact to know more about the visa requirements.
Citizens of countries such as UK, USA, Australia, Canada, Japan and majority of the EU countries do not need a visa to enter Morocco. On arrival, you can get a 90-day tourist stamp on your passport. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months.
Rabat–Salé Airport (RBT) has direct flight connections from European and Middle Eastern destinations. Ryan Air, Royal Air Maroc, Air France and Iberia are some of the major airlines flying into Rabat.
You can also arrive at Casablanca Airport as it has more international flight connections. From Casablanca, you can travel to Rabat by train.
Volunteers can also arrive at Casablanca International Airport, which is a much bigger airport than Rabat and is better connected to international destinations.
From Casablanca, you can arrive in Rabat by a convenient one hour train ride. Volunteers will be received at the Rabat Ville Station by the local coordinator or representative and will be transferred to the volunteer accommodation.
The train ride from Casablanca to Rabat Ville is for 1:30 hrs.
You can click here for more information about the trains.
Health and Safety
Volunteers are given safety precautions and instructions by the local coordinator during the orientation as well as in a Pre-departure handbook after one has enrolled for the project. Rabat is a safe city, but like in any new country, we always advise participants to be careful while venturing out.
All participants are recommended to consult their physician or travel doctor before traveling to Morocco. To view the general list of vaccinations recommended for your travel to Morocco, click here.
Yes, for all participants, it is mandatory to have a valid travel medical insurance for their trip. Volunteers have the option to purchase Travel and Medical Insurance at a nominal extra cost from Volunteering Solutions. To provide the best option to our participants, we offer comprehensive insurance coverage in collaboration with a leading insurance provider.
If you already have a valid Travel and Medical insurance, you can email us a copy of the same. It is also advised to bring along the Insurance documents during your trip.
Accommodation and Living
Your program coordinator in Rabat will take you to your placement and introduce you to everyone after giving you a basic orientation about the program/city/culture etc. You will be told about the directions to the project from your accommodation and the mode of transport which you can use. Most preferred mode of transport within the town is the Public Bus or Taxi, the coordinator will be happy to guide you regarding that.
Volunteers in Rabat project have the option of staying in the volunteer house accommodation or with a host family. Volunteer house accommodation would be a great experience as one would meet other like-minded participants from around the world, the host family accommodation would be for those looking for a great cultural immersion.
The volunteer house accommodation has five rooms which are shared between the participants. The accommodation is located in a very safe and friendly neighborhood. The house has a big kitchen and showers for the volunteers use.
The project placements are around 10-15 minutes away from the accommodations, also volunteers will be served 2 meals a day. We recommend participants to try their hands at some amazing Moroccan cuisine.
Unfortunately, the entire volunteering experience is as much about volunteering on your project, as it is about the cross-cultural exchange and community building. A lot of that happens through the accommodation that we have set up, where one can enjoy by being with like-minded people. Additionally, for safety reasons, all volunteers must live in the allotted accommodation.
Yes, that is not a problem at all. But please do let us know about your dietary requirement beforehand.
Depending on your project placement, you may get evenings and weekends free to travel and explore the place. Weekends are free for the volunteers and you can go for a short weekend trip. There is a lot to see in Morocco and you can head out to Casablanca, Fez or Marrakesh.
Do not worry, all the coordinators can speak and converse in English. Most of our participants are non-Arabic/ French speakers and they’ve never had any problems while communicating. Like we say, Love is expressed better through actions than the language. However, if you can learn some French/Arabic before coming it would be an added advantage for you.
On arrival in Rabat, you can change your foreign currency to get Moroccan dirhams. Rabat Airport has a foreign exchange service and you can change your money there. ATMs are also available in the city.
Your program fee does not cover your personal expenses. You will need to provide for yourself your personal expenses, such as bottled water, local transport, telephone, shopping, sightseeing etc. However, you should carry around $70-$80 per week for your basic personal expenses. This amount can vary and you would need a higher amount if you choose to go on weekend trips out of town.
Connect with Past Volunteers
We encourage volunteers to get in touch with former Volunteering Solutions participants and also other program participants joining our projects. You are recommended to join the Volunteering Solutions Facebook Page or Facebook Group to communicate with other participants.
To read alumni interviews from past participants, visit the ‘Meet a Volunteer’ section on our website.