Beyond volunteering: A journey of learning and social engagement in Morocco

 

 
The collaboration between Teknia and CODESPA began in 2020, and continues to this day, with a focus on promoting education and development in STEM sciences and training in the environment and green entrepreneurship, aimed at children and young people in Tangier from vulnerable backgrounds and at risk of social exclusion. The project takes the form of STEM Clubs which, in the framework of extracurricular activities in various public schools in Tangier, offer a practical, fun and motivating approach to these disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), . The aim is not only to improve their academic skills and bring science closer to these young students, but also to reduce school absenteeism. For its part, the Environment and Green Entrepreneurship Training Programme aims to raise environmental awareness among young people in Tangier and to strengthen knowledge and skills for green entrepreneurship among groups in situations of exclusion and vulnerability.

As part of Teknia’s corporate volunteering programme and to contribute to this project on the ground, our colleague Chaimae Boudadi visited Tangier in November 2024 and had the opportunity, with the help of CODESPA, to contribute her experience and knowledge in various activities with young participants in the project.

What was your motivation for signing up as a volunteer for this project?

I have always collaborated in different social activities, I have participated in various causes, and when I saw that Teknia offered us the opportunity to collaborate as volunteers, and on top of that I could do it in my country of origin, I was very motivated to participate.

What activities were you involved in?

The first two days of my stay I participated in various talks and conferences that were organised to transmit STEM knowledge to teachers, who also receive educational and didactic resources that they can apply later. I took part in a talk on leadership and communication aimed at providing tools for problem solving, communication conflicts and the use of assertiveness, among others. The participation with the whole group and the exchange of experiences between us was very enriching.

I also visited two public schools and spent time with the children developing a robotics activity and giving the leadership talks we had prepared. It was wonderful: the contact with them, feeling their curiosity, their affection, seeing how they participated in the activities, how they were interested and asked questions?

In the last few days we worked with young entrepreneurs from an association in a very vulnerable area who run various training courses, such as catering. We were joined by a colleague from Teknia Tangier, Nadia Benhachem, and the Finance & HR Manager, Hamida Ghoumarti. The young people had the opportunity to learn first-hand what it is like to work in a plant like ours, what we manufacture there and what value we give to our sector and to society; to understand that communication skills or soft skills are important, that they will be useful whether they want to develop their own business or if they want to work in a company like Teknia in the future, maybe do an internship with us, you never know!

I think it was also important that the participating volunteers were women. This empowers the girls, it encourages them to break glass ceilings, to understand that there are also opportunities for them in their country, or to give them the vision to work for those opportunities in the future.

What do you take away from this experience?

I learnt a lot. I learned things I didn’t know about the education system in Morocco, about how the schools were, I challenged myself to speak Arabic, which was something that was very difficult for me because I’m a bit rusty. I came back with a lot of affection and the feeling that I was doing my bit for something very important and necessary, something that has an impact on the lives of people whose realities are very different from ours. I also enjoyed the opportunity to visit another Teknia plant and the contact with colleagues from Morocco.

Would you do it again?

Without hesitation!