CorpsAfrica's Inaugural
All-Country Conference
Sponsored by:
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CorpsAfrica hosted its first All-Country Conference in Morocco in October 2016. Volunteers and Staff from Morocco, Senegal, and Malawi gathered to attend a series of presentations, workshops, panel discussions, and a reception followed by exciting visits to former and current Volunteers' sites.
Week One
The first week of the All-Country Conference began with elaborate introductions of the three country offices and the Headquarters. Volunteers and staff had several opportunities to introduce themselves and their activities through discussions, ice breakers and more, through which deep relationships and friendships began to form. The CorpsAfrica group attended informative, relevant sessions on a variety of topics, such as Setting Expectations on Site, Blogs and Storytelling, Project Development and Management, Monitoring and Evaluation and Translating the CorpsAfrica Experience in the Job Search. Hands-on workshops, such as Human-Centered Design, were also part of the agenda. The group also attended presentations of different the OCP Foundation, different Development Partners and the new CorpsAfrica Alumni Association.
The CorpsAfrica bond was further strengthened during the "Cultural Night," where Volunteers and staff all participated in cooking and sharing meals from the different countries, followed by a fun evening of singing and dancing to local musics. Throughout this first week, the group shared rooms, meals, experiences and unforgettable memories.
On Saturday, October 8th, the group gathered during a beautiful evening for presentations led by Volunteers. Each CorpsAfrica country was represented by two Volunteers who presented about their experiences at their sites and their projects. The presentations were then followed by a networking reception with the 120 guests including corporate sponsors, Moroccan NGO leaders, academics, CorpsAfrica alumni, Board members, and teachers, students and family of the Casablanca American School community .
The CorpsAfrica bond was further strengthened during the "Cultural Night," where Volunteers and staff all participated in cooking and sharing meals from the different countries, followed by a fun evening of singing and dancing to local musics. Throughout this first week, the group shared rooms, meals, experiences and unforgettable memories.
On Saturday, October 8th, the group gathered during a beautiful evening for presentations led by Volunteers. Each CorpsAfrica country was represented by two Volunteers who presented about their experiences at their sites and their projects. The presentations were then followed by a networking reception with the 120 guests including corporate sponsors, Moroccan NGO leaders, academics, CorpsAfrica alumni, Board members, and teachers, students and family of the Casablanca American School community .
CorpsAfrica/Senegal Volunteer Boubacar Diallo discussing with CorpsAfrica/Maroc Volunteer Hafssa Ait Tabamoute
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OCP Foundation presentation
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CorpsAfrica Volunteers dancing at the end of their day
CorpsAfrica alumni
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CorpsAfrica Alumni Association president Abdessamad Ait Dada and CorpsAfrica/Maroc president Omar Laafoura
CorpsAfrica Volulnteers participating during the Human-Centered Design workshop
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Volunteers playing a game after lunch
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CorpsAfrica/Malawi during the Cultural Night
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CorpsAfrica/Maroc Volunteers (left to right): Abdellatif Adras, Hicham Elgatem, Abderrahmane Daanouni and CorpsAfrica/Senegal staff Lamine Kouyate
CorpsAfrica/Senegal Volunteer Adnane Sounni presenting his project and site activities
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Volunteers Abdou Cissé and Hanane
CorpsAfrica staff and Volunteers discussing a projecdt during the Human Centered Design workshop
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Volunteers during another dance-off
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CorpsAfrica/Maroc Volunteer Zakaria Nidkazza presenting his project and site activities
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CorpsAfrica/Senegal Volunteer Gnagna Dabo presenting her dish, Thiebou Djeun
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CorpsAfrica/Senegal Volunteers Abdou Cissé and Hameth Ndoye presenting their projects and site activities
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CorpsAfrica Founder Liz Founder during the Volunteers Presentation and Reception
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The CorpsAfrica team with the OCPF staff
The second week of the All-Country Conference consisted of site visits. The Volunteers and staff began with a visit to rural El Jadida, a region where several OCPF CorpsAfrica/Maroc Volunteers served. The group was warmly welcomed by the community and attended a formal presentation made by the local high school's staff and students. The CorpsAfrica team also toured the library project that was implemented by Volunteers Ali El-Kassas and Abderrahim Boualy. The next day was a day off in Essaouira.
The next sites visited were located in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco. The group hiked an intense but beautiful 4 hours to arrive at the Azzaden Valley, another area where several CorpsAfrica/Maroc Volunteers served. The group split into two and each headed to its respective village, their homes for the following two and half days. The Volunteers and staff visited and evaluated existing project (preschool project by Hiba Tazi, water projects by Soufien Merzoug and Mourad Abdennebi, stairs project by Soufian Aaraichi) and performed Human Centered Design activities. They interviewed the communities and conducted surveys. During one of the evenings, both villages celebrated CorpsAfrica and its guests through an Amazigh fun dance and music festival.
The conference ended with a cozy dinner in Marrakesh. Liz Fanning presented certificates to each Volunteer, and she and Directors Mamadou Sarr and Adam Gaskins made moving, reflective speeches to the group.
The next sites visited were located in the High Atlas mountains of Morocco. The group hiked an intense but beautiful 4 hours to arrive at the Azzaden Valley, another area where several CorpsAfrica/Maroc Volunteers served. The group split into two and each headed to its respective village, their homes for the following two and half days. The Volunteers and staff visited and evaluated existing project (preschool project by Hiba Tazi, water projects by Soufien Merzoug and Mourad Abdennebi, stairs project by Soufian Aaraichi) and performed Human Centered Design activities. They interviewed the communities and conducted surveys. During one of the evenings, both villages celebrated CorpsAfrica and its guests through an Amazigh fun dance and music festival.
The conference ended with a cozy dinner in Marrakesh. Liz Fanning presented certificates to each Volunteer, and she and Directors Mamadou Sarr and Adam Gaskins made moving, reflective speeches to the group.
The All-Country Conference was nothing short of spectacular. It was a period of sharing experiences and stories, learning from one other, forming lifelong friendships and bonding over their shared passion for serving one's country and continent through CorpsAfrica.
CorpsAfrica Volunteers and Human Centered Design trainer, Garrett Mason during the El Jadida site visit
CorpsAfrica Volunteers and staff evaluating a project during the High Atlas site visit
CorpsAfrica Volunteers during the High Atlas site visit bonding with the village children
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CorpsAfrica Volunteers sharing a meal during the High Atlas site visit
CorpsAfrica/Senegal Country Director, Mamadou Sarr, at the preschool
Children from the village Tizi Oussem in the High Atlas mountains
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CorpsAfrica/Maroc Volunteer Aicha Mimouni
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CorpsAfrica/Malawi Volunteer Tusayiwe Sikwese getting Henna done during the El Jadida site visit
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CorpsAfrica Volunteers and staff hiking the High Atlas mountains
Delicious Moroccan Couscous made by local families in El Jadida
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CorpsAfrica Volunteers and HCD trainer, Garrett Mason
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CorpsAfriva Volunteers visiting the preschool project in the High Atlas site
CorpsAfrica Volunteers arriving at the village, Tizi Oussem, in the High Atlas
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Local music festival celebrating the CorpsAfrica Volunteers and staff visit to the village in the High Atlas
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Read Morocco World News's press coverage of the All Country Conference written by Marwa Al Omami.
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Read more about this exciting eleven-day conference in this detailed report!
