RifCom’s First Challenge Event in Morocco A Huge Success!!
Giving to charity can be more than donating a coin and sporting a flag sticker for the day, as the forty-one participants of the RifCom Charity Challenge Event discovered on their recent trip to Morocco in mid-June. This was a different sort of giving, where time, energy and enthusiasm was what was required, not to mention a desire for adventure.
The challenge came in two parts. For the first part, each participant was asked to climb out of their comfort zone, use their imagination and inspiration and raise a minimum target of £500 for the RifCom cause.
The participants took on the challenge with gusto and fundraising soon prevailed in Gibraltar involving events ranging from sponsored leg waxing, bingo nights and football tournaments to Morrison’s bag packing, sponsored diets and quiz nights. By raising the minimum target, each participant earned their place on the second part of the challenge, an amazing five day trip in the Rif Mountains of Morocco immersed in a variety of community project challenges. The event’s main purpose was to introduce RifCom, to the Berber communities of the Rif Mountains.
Armed with donated computers, second-hand school books and supplies, sporting equipment and clothing the group set off one sunny afternoon in mid-June, negotiated their journey by coach and ferry and arrived late in the evening at their destination. Sometimes known as the blue diamond of the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen, a beautiful town nestled in the heart of the Rif, derives its nickname from the powder blue wash which covers the homes and buildings of the town. This was to be the home of the group for the next two days.
Whilst here, the group planned to tackle various community projects such as white-washing the exterior walls of the local Women’s Association and clearing the surrounding rubble, weeds and debris; erecting a volleyball court and painting murals inside a nearby sports stadium; holding a football academy and language teachers’ workshop; setting up computers destined for the neighbouring Adrar school and clearing the local river of litter and refuse. With local children volunteering to assist in the projects and with everyone in high spirits, the true grit of the RifCom group began to show as the participants achieved their goals one by one over the next two days despite the blistering heat.
High on success, the third day saw the group split into two teams. The larger team embarking on an eight hour trek to Akchour, an idyllic mountain village and home of the natural wonder God’s Bridge, a huge red stone arch towering above the river Oued Farda. The day’s trekking gave the participants a chance to experience the prevalent poverty of the Berber Rif communities and introduce the group to some of the areas RifCom envisages supporting. The smaller team had volunteered to assist with an ambitious project of clearing an ancient Berber trail which had become overgrown. Clearing the trail meant easier access between the villages of Azilane and Akchour for the local communities and also opening up an additional tourist walking trail. This being a difficult task, the team engaged in the challenge with courage and spirit and despite the heat, insects and injuries, managed to clear most of the trail to the astonishment of the locals who believed it couldn’t be done.
The first team visited Akchour’s very basic local school and presented books, school supplies and two computers and volunteered to paint the school’s exterior. The second team held a five-a-side football tournament with the local boys of the area and presented them with donated football strips. The third team met with the local Women’s Association, which mainly facilitates a weaving shop, and presented them with donated clothes, two computers and participated in demonstrations of weaving and interacted with the young teenage girls who are put to work there. It is worth noting that schooling finishes at the age of twelve in the mountains unless parents can afford to send their children to stay in the larger towns to continue their education. Many of the teenage girls are put to work in the fields or at the weaving shop until they marry. The fifth and final day saw the group break camp and undertake a four hour walk out of Akchour to their awaiting coach on the nearest accessible road. The group, exhausted, made its way home harbouring a sense of true satisfaction and achievement. Warm with the feeling that they had participated in something special, most realised this was an experience which will stay with them for years to come. They had accomplished what they had set out to do, introduce RifCom to the impoverished communities of the Rif Mountains and made valuable connections with its people. Although the Rif Mountains covers a large area and this event only touched a very small part of it, future RifCom events plan to reach those where the poverty unfortunately only gets worse, deeper within the mountains. The trustees and working committee of the Rif Community Foundation wish to express their thanks and gratitude to all the participants of this event for their hard work and efforts and also to Price Waterhouse Coopers, Finsbury Trust & Corporate Services, STM Fidecs, Bishop Fitzgerald School, Sacarello’s Newsagency, the Soto Grande International School, The Glen Hoddle Sports Academy, Manchester United F.C. (Gibraltar) and Mr & Mrs Joe Hosken for their donated items and valued support. It is good to know that in some way we can all make a difference.
The two teams re-united late afternoon in Akchour and following a well deserved revitalising river swim, the group set up camp and familiarised themselves with the basic amenities of one toilet and no showers, just the river! Day four started with river cleaning, as despite Akchour being known as a local beauty spot, the litter and refuse discarded by its tourists is an eyesore. Whilst the river cleaning project got underway, a guides training workshop was held for the rural tourist guides of the area, including health and first-aid and a short introduction to abseiling. The morning was finished off with the whole group wading up the Oued Farda to the magnificent God’s Bridge, as a well earned treat. After lunch, although tired and worn out, the group split once again into smaller teams to complete the final community projects.
Click here to read up on the Reconnaissance Trip February 2009
