Casablanca- Dar America, the cultural branch of the US Consulate, held a volunteer orientation on January 23, for anyone interested in helping the Casablanca community.
The orientation introduced the idea of a volunteer program that would carry out different community services, including, but not limited to, a reading club and visiting orphanages, schools, and cultural centers.
Over 30 volunteers eagerly attended the meeting in hopes of coming together to help their common community. The attendees included Moroccans, Americans, Chinese, teachers, students, and business professionals. The overall tone of the meeting was informational- giving details of the projects and the partnerships with various Moroccan volunteer associations.
Although informational meetings can often lead to boredom and an excess of information, the atmosphere of this meeting was energizing. All of the volunteers introduced themselves with the mentality that coming together as a team will create the most benefits. Throughout the meeting a common consensus about what volunteerism truly means was reached- People need people to make them smile…and everyone ultimately wants to know they are noticed and cared about.
There are countless associations, organizations, and individuals involved in volunteering throughout the world that have lost sight of the reasoning behind volunteer work. The core of volunteering is to show acknowledgment to others and to create relationships that help a community thrive. This core value should never be lost, despite other factors.
It was encouraging to be in a roomful of passionate individuals from all different backgrounds that were able to unite over one common goal- helping others. An attendee of the meeting stated, “It was refreshing to share a space with people who know how important it is to help the community they are a part of.” With seemingly limited options for volunteer opportunities in Casablanca, this program is opening new doors for those with a passion to help their community.
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