Morocco programs
Volunteering
Volunteer requirements
- Volunteers aged 16 - 17 years must be accompanied by an adult to participate in this program. Volunteers aged 18+ can take part independently.
- All volunteers are required to speak fluent English (Arabic and French are plus), have adequate volunteer travel insurance and provide a criminal background check before departure.
Arrival and orientation
The Morocco volunteer program begins on the second and fourth Monday every month. You need to arrive in Rabat on the day before your chosen start date. The Morocco work week runs from Monday to Friday, with Saturdays and Sundays free. The program is based in the capital of Morocco, Rabat, which is where orientation and general administration is carried out by our partner organization. Volunteer projects are located in Rabat, Sale and Casablanca.
- After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Rabat Airport or Casablanca Airport (which is one hour away from Rabat). The cost of your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee when you arrive at Rabat airport or train station.
- When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport/ Train station by a member of the local team and taken to the volunteer accommodation, a 45 minute drive away.
- Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.
- If you are traveling in Morocco prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up from a meeting point in central Rabat on the day before your program start date.
Location
Accommodation
Meals
Location
Rabat الرباط, Morocco’s capital, rests along the shores of the Bouregreg River and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s known for landmarks that speak to its Islamic and French-colonial heritage, including the Kasbah of the Udayas. This Berber-era royal fort is surrounded by formal French-designed gardens and overlooks the ocean. The city’s iconic Hassan Tower, a 12th-century minaret, soars above the ruins of a mosque.
Rabat is home to the Royal Palace, the seat of government and the Parliament. The new city has been undergoing profound modernization shifts over the last ten years yet still remaining faithful to its history. Rabat is boldly reinventing itself and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2012.
Accommodation
You’ll be hosted in a homestay where you’ll live with a local family and other participants.
It is an exciting chance to learn the Moroccan way of life, meet local people, eat local food, speak the local language and engage in local customs and traditions. The families and the local hosts receive money from your program fee for support, food and board. This is an opportunity for you to directly see your fees having a positive impact in the community and going back into the local economy. Living is basic yet comfortable, and all homestays have electricity, WiFi and running water. participants can expect to share a room with other participants of the same gender, however in some homestays participants have their own rooms.
Meals
Participants are provided with breakfast, lunch and dinner every day, with all meals served at your homestay. Breakfast and dinners tend to be smaller portions with a basic plate comprising a fried egg with a runny yoke, a handful of black olives, soft cheese, and a large helping of oil, generally olive oil. Honey might also be served and of course coffee or tea. Lunch is the biggest meal of the three, a typical lunch begins with a series of hot and cold salads, followed by a tagine. Often, for a formal meal, a lamb or chicken dish is next, or couscous topped with meat and vegetables. Bottled water is readily available in Morocco and participants should budget approximately $5 a week for two liters a day. If you have any special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply for the program so we can make arrangements for you.
On Sunday, orientation is taking place in Rabat and runs for a full day. Orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Morocco – an introduction to Morocco , Morocco ian customs, rules and expectations, safety, travel opportunities in Morocco ,and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
Morocco (Arabic: al-Maghrib المغرب) officially the Kingdom of Morocco,is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to the east, and the disputed territory of Western Sahara to the south.
The English Name Morocco is an anglicisation of the Spanish name for the country, Marruecos, derived from the name of the city of Marrakesh, which was the capital of the Almoravid dynasty, the Almohad Caliphate, and the Saadian dynasty.
Morocco is distinguished by its Berber, Arabian and European cultural influences and is home to the world’s largest desert known as the Sahara desert. Morocco is a rich and varied mix of cultures. The Arab, Moorish, African, and European influences merge as much in its architecture and languages as in the cuisine it is famous for. If you are looking to spend time by the sea Surfing or swimming at the same time, hike or ski the mountains and visit the desert, Morocco is your perfect destination to combine all of that in one trip.
Essential country information
Capital
Population
Languages
Currency
Time zone
Weather and climate
Morocco has a Mediterranean climate that is generally hot and dry for most of the year, with cooler, yet still mild, temperatures and rainfall during the winter months between November and March. Morocco has widely varying terrain and the climate varies greatly throughout the country.
Temperatures can be incredibly high in the southern and south eastern desert areas whereas, the temperature drops considerably in the higher lying mountainous areas, even Morocco is located on the North West coast of Africa and has ports in the North Atlantic Ocean as well as the Mediterranean Sea. It is the fourth most populous Arab country (after Algeria, Sudan) and shares the largest part of its border with Algeria to the East and Mauritania to the South. Morocco is divided into sixteen regions. Each region is further divided into provinces and prefectures. Despite the fact many people identify Marrakech as the major center of Morocco, the capital city is Rabat and its largest city is Casablanca. Marrakech is the major tourism hub for Morocco.
Affordable French Language Lessons
French language lessons can be arranged outside of your Internship/Volunteering hours and are taught by local French teachers. lessons can be booked in advance:
10 hour
20 hour
30 hour
Affordable Arabic Language Lessons
Arabic language lessons can be arranged outside of your Internship/Volunteering hours and are taught by local Arabic teachers. lessons can be booked in advance:
10 hour
20 hour
30 hour
40 hour
Free-time experiences & tours in Morocco
- A trip to Morocco is not complete without visiting the striking, blue-washed buildings of the old town of Chefchaouen.
- The Hassan II Mosque is a must visit while in Casablanca. It is the second largest functioning mosque in Africa and is the 14th largest in the world
- Visit the world's largest hot desert, The Sahara Desert
- If you are a beginner or an advanced surfer, Morocco offers a wide range of beaches to practice and catch the perfect waves. Agadir, Tamraght, Essaouira, Taghazout, Imsouane and many more.
- The Atlas Mountains provide excellent opportunities for hiking, trekking, and mountaineering. Visit the highest peak in Morocco, the Atlas Mountains, North Africa and the Arab world Mount Toubkal.
- Visit the city that has a rich and fascinating history, dating back to the 11th century, and is home to many historic buildings and landmarks such as Bahia Palace, the Koutoubia Mosque, and the Saadian Tombs Marrakech.
- Visit the best known old cities are Fes medina, medina Marrakech, Tangier medina, Rabat medina, Tetouan medina, El Jadida medina, Essaouira medina, Larache medina, Meknes medina, Tiznit medina, old medina Casablanca, Chefchaouen medina, Asilah medina, Azemmour medina, Sefrou medina, and Taroudant medina.
Morocco programs prices
Prices
| Duration | Program Fees |
|---|---|
| 1 Week | $440 Equivalent to $62/day |
| 2 Weeks | 810 Equivalent to $57/day |
| 3 Weeks | 1097 Equivalent to $52/day |
| 4 Weeks | 1390 Equivalent to $49/day |
| 5 Weeks | 1680 Equivalent to $48/day |
| 6 Weeks | 1970 Equivalent to $46/day |
| 8 Weeks | 2550 Equivalent to $45/day |
| 10 Weeks | $3030 Equivalent to $43/day |
| 12 Weeks | $3510 Equivalent to $41/day |
Price Includes
- Accommodation
- Meals
- 24/7 in-country support
- In-country program orientation
- Airport pick-up
- Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
- Certificate of Volunteer Service
Important things to note
All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$150 in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services.
Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, public transport to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Morocco generally find US$50 to be sufficient for basic weekly expenses..