Moroccans recently flocked to banks and post offices to buy yellow solidarity badges to support the construction of professional training and development centres for the poor.
Their efforts supported the 12th annual Mohammed V Foundation solidarity campaign, which mobilised Moroccans from November 15th-25th to help finance the construction of the centres.
"Since its inception, the foundation has been able to fund hundreds of social, humanitarian or sustainable development projects thanks to donations from the Moroccan public," said Kaiss Ben Yahya, the foundation's communications director.
The most important achievement of the campaign is "rallying Moroccans in support of the noble values of solidarity, which are anchored in the nation's culture", he concluded.
Last year's campaign raised more than 230 million dirhams to help fund the construction of seven vocational training centres for young people. The Office for Professional Training and Promotion of Employment also contributed money to the project.
Two additional training and skills centres were built last year, in co-operation with the Ministry of Agriculture. The Ministry of Youth and Sport also collaborated with the solidarity fund to bring two more social and education centres to the Moroccan public.
Such charity campaigns have won a broad echo of support in public and political circles.
"We need to put our faith in young people, particularly through education, if we want to combat inequality and poverty," said Istiqlal Party member Mohammed Ansari.
"This kind of initiative can only promote social development in Morocco and facilitate social cohesion," he continued. Ansari called the impact on beneficiaries "huge", and lauded the foundation for focussing on training society's poorest members to help them become integrated into the mainstream.
Lahcen Daoudi, an MP representing the Party of Justice and Development, praised the foundation for its work. However, he added that such campaigns were "not enough".
"It's essential to involve all NGOs," he said, adding that more media-driven awareness-raising campaigns were needed to communicate with the public about solidarity. He also suggested that the state create a special authority to raise zakat (alms) and encourage Moroccans to give more generously by providing tax breaks for donors.
"The idea of solidarity and giving has changed a great deal due to declining living standards in the country," said the MP. "It's hard for someone who lives in a flat measuring 40 square metres to look after their parents. So solidarity is beginning to fade due to changes in the living conditions of ordinary Moroccans."
Daoudi also suggested the promotion of waqf (endowments) as a tool for social solidarity.
© Magharebia.com 2009
