Rabat – August 21 marks Youth Day, Morocco’s annual celebration of its younger generations, an occasion for the kingdom to reaffirm its commitments to the young demographic and celebrate its progress on youth empowerment.
Youth Day in Morocco was first celebrated in July of 1956, after Morocco had just gained its independence. The holiday was instituted when the late King Mohammed V wanted to celebrate the birthday of Moulay Hassan, the heir to the throne at the time.
The holiday falls on August 21 under the reign of Mohammed VI, also marking his birthday.
Also read: Youth Day: Celebrating Morocco’s Youth, King Mohammed VI’s Youthful Years
The celebrations of the holiday are not conducted on a national level anymore, as King Mohammed VI suspended the festivities in 2019, effectively canceling the holiday permanently.
Despite widespread celebrations being cancelled, however, the holiday still lives on as one of the first occasions to be widely celebrated in the Kingdom’s history and one of its oldest holidays.
Through the course of its history, especially during King Mohammed VI’s reign, Morocco has taken many steps to ensure the welfare of its young populations and ensure their physical and mental health.
The Moroccan government has contributed to creating several education and training centers, athletic and intellectual compounds, and rehabilitation services to benefit the country’s youth by improving both their living conditions and employment prospects.
One significant way in which the young Moroccan generations are given more opportunities to grow and develop is through the new development model for the kingdom.
In a speech in 2018, King Mohammed VI urged national and local authorities to put youth issues at the center of the new development model.
A report by the committee responsible for putting together this development model also confirmed the importance of the demographic, stating that Morocco’s future development should be centered around a free and prospering youth.
The developmental model, which the committee presented to the King in late May this year, stresses the commitment to improving conditions for youths in Morocco. It advocates revamping educational services, improving public transportation, and improving the country’s digital infrastructure as the internet continues to prove the primary mode of gaining connections and opportunities.
