CCNYs International Service Learning Program in Morocco

 

International Service-Learning Program in Rabat/Salé, Morocco

 Dates: TBA

 Credits: 4

 ***Some knowledge of Arabic or French is preferred.***
This is a three-week Service Learning program in Rabat, Morocco, offered in collaboration with the Center for Cross-Cultural Learning and Thaqafat Association, which cooperates with a number of NGOs offering volunteer projects that focus on children with disabilities, women's rights, education, environment, and health care. Thaqafat's relationship with these NGOs allows it to match applicants' interests and skills to those of a specific NGO project. The ISL course will expose students to Morocco, especially focusing on its cultural, political, and social development. Topics include immigration, democratization, religion, women's and minority rights, cultural diversity, and education. 

 

Students will be exposed to various important and contemporary issues in Morocco during the service-learning component. Morocco is a bridge between Europe, Africa and the Middle East, both physically and culturally. It is a dynamic location as it is experiencing an Islamist awakening, a public recognition of Amazigh (Berber) culture, and a democratic transition within its ancient monarchy. Students should be able to come out of the course with an understanding of Moroccan culture, grasp diverse movements and tensions in the society, and assess what might be learned from Morocco and applied universally.

 

In the first week of the program, students will study "survival" Arabic in the mornings and work in their internships in the afternoons. Thereafter, they will be fully engaged in their internships. Interns will be placed either with Amnesty International (Maroc), L'Association Democratique des Femmes du Maroc, AMESIP School for Street Children, or Le Féminin Pluriel. They will work eight hours a day for five days. Field trips may be arranged on weekends.

 

Students will be housed in homestays for part of the time, and in a downtown two-star hotel for the rest of the time. Program costs include field trips. Students are required to obtain travel and health insurance to cover their study abroad. There will be a pre-departure orientation at City College at the end of the Spring semester, during which a reading list will be made available to students. This will be followed by one or more information sessions, and training sessions as needed. It is important that students attend all the pre-departure sessions. Two written assignments and a term paper will be required in the course. A statement of interest should be included in the application. A program evaluation and de-briefing will be held prior to registration for credits in the Fall Semester.

 

Student will register for INTL 31xxx International Service-Learning Seminar during the Winter Session (4 credits).

 

Important Dates (mandatory meetings):

- Interview with Study Abroad: TBA
- Pre-Departure Orientation: TBA
- Deadline for payment of Program costs and CUNY - Tuition: TBA
- Deadline for all Application Materials: TBA

 

Costs

Application Fee: $300.00

CUNY Tuition: 4 Credits

Program Cost: $2,230.00

Airfare: TBA

 

*Program cost includes housing, meals, and field trips. Airfare is not included.