Taroudant, June 27, 2006Our second visit on the trip was also in Taroudant, at the ALCS (Association de Lute Contre le SIDA) office. ALCS is a NGO for all of Morocco which helps youth set up health clubs in schools, which aim at educating other youth about AIDS awareness and health. The first health club entitled The Student, has been in action for two years and focuses on reproductive health and AIDS awareness. We visited their meeting in which they reviewed the work they had done over the past year and discussed their future goals. What is truly remarkable about the program is, that it was set up by student for students. To me, this was the most special aspect of the whole set up as it displayed that Morocco’s young citizens are already concerned and active in helping shape Morocco. The Student aims at creating spaces in schools of the province where the health clubs can work, while simultaneously encouraging students to participate and be informed. Over the past twelve months the club has organized numerous activities, aiming at spreading AIDS awareness yet also at earning more money to help develop the club. What was especially interesting as well was, that the club publishes a newsletter which informs the community of what work it has been doing, thus encouraging people to come and join “together against AIDS.” It was also interesting to learn that the club did not face great opposition or judgment from the community, which indicates that the Moroccan people are ready to begin realizing the existence of AIDS and its horrifying impact. However, AIDS as a reality and a existing problem in Morocco is still a fairly new idea thus, there is still great work which needs to be done. Yet the organization along with the youth club has taken a first important step.
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