Meet the Sixth Group of CorpsAfrica Volunteers in Morocco:

Hasnae Ahoudar is from Ain Cheggag, a small town in Atlass Seghir. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Studies and Linguistics from Sidi Mohammed Ben Abdellah University in Fes and wrote a thesis about social media and propaganda. Hassnae is a certified teacher from E-Smart, a private teacher training center in Fes, and also holds a TEFL diploma from the American Center in Rabat. She participated in several programs and projects organized by the Peace Corps, namely Model United Nations where she received an award for being the second-best delegate, and the Life Skills program. In her first year with the Peace Corps, she managed to become a Life Skills Trainer, then became one of the founders of a Peace Corps Volunteer’s Community Service Club Ain Cheggag. During the program’s first year she volunteered as an English teacher for beginners. She also had a brief experience with Amideast in Rabat. Hassnae is an extrovert who adores getting to know new people and learning about their culture. As a CorpsAfrica Volunteer, Hassnae hopes to leave a positive impact in her community, and she is very excited to live this amazing experience in her countryside.

Asmae Amechnoug is from Taroudant and holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Foreign Languages from Ibn Zohr University. She has worked as a teacher of English as a second language and is interested in developing her Arabic-English translation skills. Asmae also has various experiences in volunteer work. She worked as a History and Cultural Facilitator for the Peace Corps, and served as a Co-Facilitator for a number of Project Soar’s workshops on topics such as human rights, goal setting, and communication and leadership that aims to empower the young Moroccan girls. She is passionate about learning new languages and culture, and loves being out of her comfort zone to take on new challenges to create the best version of herself. Asmae believes that teaching and volunteering will always give her the power to create the change she wants to see in her community and in the world.

Siham Amjahdi is originally from Laayoun city and currently lives in Ait Ouarir, Marrakesh. Siham holds a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Cadi Ayyad University. She is ambitious, aspiring to pursue a career in philosophic studies and to work as a university professor. Siham is also working to develop her soft skills, so she attended multiple workshops with the AFCD Foundation and participated in different activities with the Youth Center of her hometown. Siham loves to be an active member in her community and will do her best to create positive change.

Salima Anjar is Amazighian, born and raised in Marrakesh. She holds a technical certificate specializing in Business Management. Salima loves to learn languages, and in addition to her fluent Arabic, Tamazight and French, she is studying English and Turkish. She is a talented makeup artist planning to be a professional. Salima’s volunteering activities include her position as the Secretary General for her Scout association in Marrakesh, where she participated in organizing diverse medical and charity caravans. Salima is a person who loves to combine her specialty as business manager with social work to serve the common good.

Sanae Belmqadam is from Salé. She holds a diploma in secretariate and she is currently studying law in Salé Faculty of Economic and Social Sciences. Sanae has been a part of numerous social activities with various Moroccan NGOs. She facilitated different trainings and camps to empower teenagers and help them develop their personality and skills. Sanae is seeking to enhance her own skills and build on her career while working with the teenagers who present the new generation of the community and the future.

Ahlam Ben-Taj is originally from Azrou. She studied English Studies at Moulay Ismail University in Meknes and Business Management at the Institution of Applied Technology in Azrou. She has worked as an English teacher, a French and Arabic tutor, and as a teacher in an educational and cultural cooperative in Azrou. Learning and teaching languages is her passion, as she speaks Arabic, English, French and Turkish. Ahlam is an active listener who can understand the point of view of others and respond with empathy and is a critical thinker willing to reconsider and revise views where honest reflection suggests that change is warranted. She is ardent about entrepreneurship and leadership and believes that they are the best methods by which she could develop herself and her country.

Souhail Boukraa grew up in Agadir. After earning his high school degree in Mechanical Science and Technology, he moved to Tangier where he graduated in Mechanical Engineering and Industrial and Product Design from Abdelmalek Essaadi University. During his studies he also volunteered with a local entrepreneurship non-profit organization called Enactus, and worked on different social projects related to recycling and environmental issues. He is an easy-going person, who loves to meet new people and positively impact his surroundings, and is curious about new cultures and perspectives. His favorite hobbies are cycling, hiking, and swimming. Souhail believes in making change and taking a stand for humanity.

Soufiane Dayi was born and raised in Fes city, and graduated with bachelor’s degree in English Studies and Literature from Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah University in Fes. From 2017 to 2019, he worked in tourism. He then became a successful entrepreneur in transportation & logistics, founding and directing “DXT Tours” to provide unforgettable travel experiences to people visiting Morocco. Through these activities, he developed important skills like time management, teamwork, project management, communication, and successful leadership. Soufiane is a polyglot who speaks English, French, Spanish, and Mandarin Chinese and is conversational in Japanese, Italian, Wolof, Turkish, and Russian. He spent the last three years researching Asian studies and improving his knowledge of Chinese language and cultures. In terms of voluntary work, Soufiane participated in the Royal Moroccan Federation of Fitness and Bodybuilding (RFMFFB) in order to raise awareness about illegal drug intake in sport and demonstrate the benefits of natural aesthetic and nutrition in sportsmanship. As someone who loves the outdoors and discovering new cultures, Soufiane is eager to lead development in his community and leave a positive impact through his belief in the two words “HOPE and CHANGE.”

Ikram Douaou is from Marrakech and majored in English Studies at Cadi Ayyad University. She also recently earned a master's degree in Applied Foreign Languages in Culture, Media and Business with honors. Ikram began her life as a social activist at 17 years old, when she began taking part in and organizing community activities. Alongside her studies, she taught English in a public primary school as part of a local NGO's program. Ikram perceives social work as a lifestyle and hopes to build a career as a strong social activist in the future. She always advises people to follow their passion whatever it is and to assume their choice. "We will never fail if we follow our passion. We might be mistaken and make the wrong choice, but we will grow from it."

Aziza El Aaziz was born and raised in Dakhla, Moroccan Sahara and holds a bachelor’s of English Language and Literary studies from Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech. She is a young human rights activist with a multicultural background and is passionate about politics and feminism. Professionally, Aziza is an English teacher in a private school and a content writer. She has also worked with various NGOs because she is passionate and committed to giving something back to her community and to making the world a better place for everyone. Aziza loves yoga, meditation, philosophy, and creative writing. In her daily life, she tries to follow the idea once expressed by Mahatma Gandhi- Be the change you want to see in the world.

Sokayna Elgharabi is from Ouled Teima and received her diploma in chemistry. She loves traveling, reading, and swimming and does a lot of volunteer work. She started her volunteer career with the Peace Corps as a counterpart more than 9 years ago. Focused on youth development, she taught lessons of MUN and participated in national and international conferences. She also trained with the climb club, lead two GLOW camps, and led a children's camp with scouts. Beyond the Peace Corps, Sokayna worked with OCP’s Act for Community, accompanied foreign doctors, and worked as a volunteer translator in convoys in remote areas. She was responsible for a Rockflower Association program to fund a women’s project and secure a place to practice sewing and sports for the Horizons for Women and Childhood Association. This particular project continued to fund women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sokayna is currently working as a Co-Founder for Opportunities for Moroccan Youth which trains young people on how to apply for grants and other domestic and international opportunities. 

Ayoub El Fadili is from Boukhechba, Morocco. Having left his home at age 11 to pursue his studies, Ayoub holds a bachelor’s degree in Applied Foreign Languages from the Polydisciplinary Faculty of Taroudant (IBNO ZOHR) as well as a Computer Network (IT) diploma from the Institute of Applied Technologies in Agadir. He aims to be a part of the solution and to give something back to the community. He is full of enthusiasm, willing to take on new challenges, learn new languages, and experience new cultures. Ayoub served as a university student representative and council member and tutored other students. Active in many clubs and associations at his university, Ayoub eventually created his own club called “Jeunes Leader Maroccain”. With his university colleagues, he took advantage of the International Day Against Aids to lead his group in creating a campaign for AIDS awareness. He is eager to develop his skills, to live new challenges, push his limits and reach the hoped level, through his opportunity offered by CorpsAfrica and practice in pitches, what he learned, by serving in Atlas Mountains.

Oumaima Elmoujahid was born and raised in Casablanca. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University Hassan 2 – Faculty of Literature And Human Sciences in Mohammedia, and a master’s degree in Educational Psychology with a specialty in “Education and Integration Of Children and Young People In Difficulty”, from the University Mohamed 5 – Faculty of Education Sciences in Rabat.  She is passionate about learning new languages, so she received a Certificate in Japanese language (Beginners Level) and hopes to one day be fluent in Tamazight to feel closer to her origins as a Moroccan. 

​Concerning her academic journey, Oumaima participated in research concerning childhood and youth. One of her latest projects was titled: “The effectiveness of art activities program in alleviating ADHD’s symptoms on children”. Her interest in art and her 3-year participation in the Art Club at the University Hassan 2 in Mohammedia helped her to use art and its psychological effects to control the problems and difficulties that children can face in their development, and also to enrich their self-confidence and cognitive dimensions. 

Oumaima first experiences volunteer work when she decided to cooperate with some other individuals to prepare and distribute “Iftar meals” to needy people and nursing homes during the holy month of Ramadan. A quote which motivates her to be a CorpsAfrica Volunteer is “In the act of helping others, we get to help ourselves too”.

Fatima Ezzydany is from Agadir. She holds a master’s degree in Economic Management of Social Organizations from Ibno Zohr University in Agadir. Fatima is involved in various volunteering activities in her own community and has been promoting and enabling young people's community engagement, helping them become active change makers to make a positive difference. Fatima is a social activist advocating for gender equality and youth empowerment and is passionate about girls’ rights. She is the founder of the "First Step for Education Initiative" (FSEI), which aims to equip girls in the Agadir region with skills and confidence as well as promote girls’ rights. She says, “As a Moroccan young girl I should do my best, involve myself in volunteering activities, and use my skills to help people in need, because it is my duty to do that.” Fatima chose to be a volunteer with CorpsAfrica/ Maroc because she likes volunteering and wants to spread the sense of volunteerism in small villages.

Aziza Himmad is from Ouled Teima-Taroudant. She studied Economics at the University Ibn Zohr and also holds a diploma in Accounting. She has participated in volunteerism and social impact efforts in her university through clubs such as Orientation Pedagogique Club. In her local community she used to teach children during her free time. Aziza loves travelling, discovering new places, and nature, because she adores calmness. She is also passionate about music and dance and enjoyed her time playing the drums. Aziza’s love to be in challenging environments led her to apply for CorpsAfrica where she hopes to grow personally and professionally. She wants to make a positive change in the community and inspires others to do the same.

Malika Jbari is from Larache, Morocco. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English Studies from the University of Abdelmalek in Tetouan/Martil, where she presented a thesis on gender and the way women were perceived and treated in the Hareem. Malika volunteered for one year with the Association of Mother for Social Care in Martil, where she served as a coordinator for several workshops and was a facilitator with Alqods Association in Larache. Malika has also been a member of the Together We Can Grow program in partnership with the British Council. Through these experiences she developed skills in communication, organization, and teamwork. Malika is excited to apply her expertise to help her community achieve the best.

Fatima Ezzahra Labouhi is from Taroudant and holds a bachelor’s degree in Economic Studies. Fatima has been a part of various social actions such as the COVID-19 vaccination process with the Moroccan Red Crescent and teaching citizens about the danger of climate change with AMUDDU Association. She also worked with a number of other associations, including ENACTUS (a Moroccan NGO working in the field of social entrepreneurship and sustainable development) in implementing various projects, and the Peace Corps in facilitating and animating a GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) camp. Throughout her experiences, Fatima Ezzahra developed various skills like leadership, project design, and management, which she is always ready to apply in order to lead her community and country toward the best.

Abderrazzaq Mahboub is from Tinjdad, in southeast Morocco. He holds a master’s degree in Human Resources Management (HRM) from Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra. Currently, he is a PHD student specializing in emotional intelligence. He has published two articles both in English and French that discuss the management of teleworkers in Moroccan SMES during the COVID-19 era. He is also working on his first book about emotional intelligence in Islam. Abderrazzaq is very active in social work and is a member of various associations, such as the association for solidarity in his home town and the Future Human Resources Managers Club in Kenitra. He believes that understanding emotional development will allow societies to develop and make the impossible possible, and he will work to bring this to his community.

Essaid Meria is originally from Kalaat-Magouna and holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Social Transformations and Human Development from Mohamed V University in Rabat. He has multiple experiences in scientific/field research where he focused on associative organizations and their role in rural development. Beyond his studies, Essaid had participated in numerous volunteering programs, facilitating various educational and cultural activities. He is also an active member of two different Moroccan associations. Essaid believes that through volunteering and community engagement, he can develop himself and his community.

Said Mesrour was born in Erfoud, a small city in the south of Morocco. He graduated from the University of Molay Ismail in Meknes, where he enjoyed the study of English Language and Literature. Throughout his studies, Said participated in social justice work as a volunteer with nonprofit organizations in Morocco such as the Peace Corps, where he worked alongside Volunteers for over 5 years. Through this work he tackled issues regarding access to health care, youth development, and leadership. He developed strengthened communication skills, a greater understanding of cultures (especially his own native culture), a greater self-organization, a richer understanding for service work, and improvement in his English-speaking abilities. Said also became a professional writer and learned more about project coordination. He is eager to become a great leader so he can develop his community and work with community members to solve problems, work on gender equality, and understand more about the cultures of the world around him. Said is very motivated, flexible, self-directed, and brings a variety of experiences which contribute to his ability to be a strong independent worker as well as an adaptable team player.

Salima Serrakh is from Marrakech and she holds a diploma in Business Management from the Institute of Applied Technology. She aspires to complete her studies in a professional license and work with multinational companies and organizations. Salima was able to participate in several community activities such as donating blood and organizing an entertainment day for trisomy 21 children. She is looking to improve her softs skills as well as the hard ones so she can achieve her goals and develop her community.

Salah Sguenfle is Tiznit City, more specifically from a village called Aday, where he was born and raised. He obtained a bachelor’s degree in English Studies at IBN ZOHR University. Salah participated in multiple programs such as the SIS program (Social Innovative Student Program) where he developed his leadership skills and expanded his knowledge of teamwork, time management, and self-development. He also improved his English language in both written and spoken forms in a program called the Access Program. Salah has taken part in university clubs and activities where he got to know the basics of theatre and public speaking. While a student he also got his first experience teaching kids and adults. Ultimately Salah is interested in sports, teaching, and discovering new things. Being from a rural area he is eager to give something back by collaborating with organizations and funding projects for his hometown.

Abderrahim Tachabaraate is from Beni Mellal but was born and raised in Doar Ait Blal, a small village located in the Middle Atlas. He holds a bachelor’s degree of English Literature and a degree in Tour Guiding, Mountain Guiding and Tourism. His extensive knowledge of the Moroccan geographic diversity and Imazighian culture and language makes him a unique guide and prepares him to serve in non-Arabic speaking communities. Abderrahim is an active citizen who loves to work for his country. He participated in many different social activities, and loves to teach language to orphans and the children of his village. He always tries to be part of solidarity actions to provide rural areas with food, clothes, and medicines. Abderrahim believes that Moroccan community development will be created by young active Moroccans like him.

Fatiha Tachakourt is a 2019-2020 Fulbright FLTA Program Alumna, where she served at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania. She is now working as a language tutor, translator, and research assistant. Fatiha has a master’s degree in Media Diversity, and a bachelor's degree in English Studies from Ibn Zohr University Agadir. With the Agadir-based NGO Si Hmad for Development, Education, and culture, Fatiha was a facilitator for two educational environmental programs dedicated to helping children from disadvantaged communities in the Aitbaamrane region. Fatiha believes that social work is a key to a social change, and she hopes to take what she learns during her volunteering experience with CorpsAfrica back to her hometown.

Brahim Yahyaoui is from Rissani, a small city in the Rachidia region of southern Morocco, although he is currently living in Meknes where he is active in various local associations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Brahim has attended several national public and private training sessions that helped him develop socialization skills as a social agent. He was also involved in different social projects and activities that target agriculture and education. Additionally, Brahim has developed his communication, leadership and teamwork skills, which make him a special social agent and an active learner who is always excited to learn and experience new things.