Written by Jade Norden, University of Arizona

As he prepares to cross the stage at convocation, Mourad Abdennebi reflects on the path that led him here. He will earn a doctorate in second language acquisition and teaching from the university’s Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, where faculty mentors helped guide his passion for language research and community engagement. It’s the latest step in a journey that began in Erfoud, Morocco, where his parents instilled the values of education and service.  

“They taught me that learning should always be connected to community. I came to believe that success means very little unless it’s used to uplift others.” – Mourad Abdennebi

Those values led him to serve with CorpsAfrica, where volunteers work to improve rural African communities. He was placed in a Moroccan village in the High Atlas Mountains – a landscape, culture, and language different from where he grew up.

“It was a whole new world for me, but the community embraced me,” said Mourad. “From the first week, I felt like I belonged. Everyone was trying to teach me how to do things and speak the local language, Tamazight.”

He views community service as a lifelong commitment, not a short-term act of charity.

Through his work with CorpsAfrica, he was invited to speak at the United Nations General Assembly last year. He spoke to non-government organizations about the importance of community-led solutions.

“Communities closest to the challenges often hold the clearest insights into the solutions,” said Mourad.