Sister Cities Africa People to People Diplomacy via Morocco

Sister Cities Africa

People to People Diplomacy

Contents

• Introduction to Sister Cities Africa

• Action Plan for Sister Cities Africa

• Mission Statement, Morocco Association of Sister Cities International

• Current Sister Cities Partnerships in Morocco

• Potential Sister Cities Partnerships in Morocco

• Casablanca Chicago Sister Cities Association

• Sidi Moumen Cultural Center

• Neighborhoods Association IDMAJ

• Recent Activities

• U.S.-Arab Cities Forum, December 13-14, 2010

• Upcoming Programs

o African Urban Poverty Alleviation Program

o Social Mediation Center, MEPI

o Sister Cities Africa Youth Sports and Leadership Festival

• Who we are

• Contacts

Sister Cities Africa – People to People Diplomacy

I would like to take this opportunity to introduce to you our organization Sister Cities Africa and explain our mission, vision and action plan. Sister Cities Africa, which is an official partner of Sister Cities International based in D.C., is a non-profit organization aimed at creating, reinforcing, developing and maintaining sister cities partnerships between cities in Africa and the United States of America. Our mission is to propose, coordinate and help implement cultural exchanges in the fields of education, arts, music, sports and business at the municipal and community level and strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations between people in Africa and the United States of America. We intend to build global cooperation at local levels, promote understanding and mutual respect, and stimulate economic development. Our vision is to create a solid platform in order to encourage partnerships between African cities themselves and between African and American cities as well. Our objectives are to reduce the gap between the north and south and engage in cultural education and appreciation. We hope to promote, coordinate and encourage initiatives and activities that reinforce the ties between citizens and municipalities. We will do this by facilitating the exchange of best practices in different domains, encouraging understanding and mutual respect and combating prejudice by encouraging the exchange of culture and values and reinforcing friendly relations between people of different cultures, religions and perspectives. Our Action Plan for the next two years is very ambitious. After co-organizing the Third Annual US/Arab Cities Forum, which took place in Casablanca in December 2010, we co-organized the Regional AUPAP grant workshop with Sister Cities International which brought together over 30 African and American sister cities leaders and municipal workers for project management training in Casablanca. As a next step, we would like to create a Federation of African Sister Cities Partnerships and host the first meeting here in Morocco in 2011. We also hope to initiate sister cities relationships as well as various programs such as partnerships between American and African schools and universities, youth and cultural exchanges and home stays. We will hold the first ever Regional Youth conference for young men and women from Africa and the United States of America as well as a regional sports festival to highlight how sports and exchanges create change and bring people together. Thank you for taking time to learn about us. We appreciate any suggestions or proposals that will enrich our programming and help us fulfill our mission of cooperation, understanding, mutual respect and economic development. Best Regards, Boubker Mazoz President Founder of Sister Cities Africa www.sistercitiesafrica.org

Sister Cities Africa - People to People Diplomacy

Préambule : Les jumelages entre les villes à l’international offrent un cadre d’échange entre citoyens, permettant la mise en place d’une véritable diplomatie populaire et citoyenne. Les peuples africains en collaborant étroitement entre eux à travers cet outil et en s’ouvrant à l’international, peuvent initier une dynamique vertueuse d’échange dans les domaines culturels, économique et politique. Sister Cities Africa se veut au cœur de ce mouvement. Elle vise à créer une plateforme solide en Afrique dans le but d’encourager les partenariats entre les villes africaines entre elles et avec les villes américaines. L’objectif est de réduire le fossé entre le nord et le sud et de promouvoir, coordonner et encourager les initiatives et les programmes qui renforcent les liens entre les individus et les municipalités dans les deux sens. Sister Cities Africa aura aussi pour rôle de, faciliter les échanges et les meilleures pratiques dans différents domaines tout en encourageant la compréhension culturelle et le respect mutuel.

L’organisation: « Sister Cities Africa » a pour objet : • De favoriser la constitution de Comités de jumelage entre différentes Villes et localités africaines et

villes et localité africaines et américaines. • D’assister toutes les potentialités locales ou régionales dans la phase de prospection et études pour

l’identification ou les négociations en vue de l’établissement de jumelages bilatéraux entre les villes. • De fournir toutes les études, documentation et conseils constitutifs des dossiers de candidature • De mettre toute l’expertise de ses membres, notamment fondateurs, et leur réseau relationnel à

l’étranger, pour faciliter la conclusion des accords nécessaires pour la création et mise en place de Comités de jumelage bilatéraux

• De conseiller, accompagner, encadrer et former si nécessaire les personnes et structures désignés à assumer la direction de ces Comités de jumelage bilatéraux

• De peser de tout son poids au sein des organisations internationales, telles « Sister Cities USA », « International Council of Sister Cities USA », « Sister Cities International» …etc auxquelles «Sister Cities Africa» ou l’un de ses membres sont affiliés ou membres dirigeants.

• De fédérer et regrouper ces comités locaux au sein de «Sister Cities Africa » afin de coordonner, renforcer, harmoniser, optimiser leurs actions respectives et constituer un interlocuteur crédible et représentatif auprès soit des instances locales qu’internationales que vis-à-vis des partenaires socio-économiques et de la Société Civile.

• A ce titre, la vocation première de «Sister Cities Africa» serait de représenter le continent africain et les Comités bilatéraux au sein de l’Organisation internationale : « Sister Cities International ». Cette représentation n’est pas exclusive de toute autre représentation que l’organisation jugerait utile.

• Il reste entendu que, pour être conforme à l’éthique de l’organisation «Sister Cities Africa », les principes de bases qui procèdent de la création des Comités de jumelages bilatéraux doivent intégrer les principes généraux suivants, sans qu’ils soient par ailleurs exhaustifs :

- Favoriser, en matière professionnelle, culturelle, sportive, technologique, économique, touristique, académique et scientifique les échanges amicaux et les rapprochements de tous ordres. Ces rapprochements se feront le plus souvent en liaison avec les services culturels et économiques des Représentants des Villes concernées ainsi qu’avec l’appui des représentations diplomatiques concernées. - Faciliter les échanges et instaurer une meilleure compréhension entre les peuples.


Headquarters: Blvd. Mohammed Kamal, Centre Commercial, Sidi Belyout 6th floor, Apt. 11

Casablanca, Morocco

Action Plan

Activity Description

Output

Promotion of Sister Cities

Africa

• Create website and newsletter as well as other promotional materials

• Spread the word of the SCA office through social networks, internet, email databases and other networks of information dissemination regionally and internationally

• Fully interactive website in French, Arabic and English

• Monthly newsletter in all three languages • PowerPoint, flyers, banners, statutes etc

Promotion of

SCI partnerships

• Strengthen partnerships between US and African cities

• Revive old partnerships and create new ones

• Stronger cultural ties between current sister city partnerships

• More sustainable activities and programming

• Better marketing of activities to African and American communities

• Monitoring and evaluation reports • Increased new partnerships

Federation of Sister Cities in

Africa

• Create a network of all existing sister cities in the region

• Work with local governments and civil society to establish representative committees

• Organize joint events and share best practices

• Create marketing and visibility opportunities on the website for all activities and events

• Greater support and organization among the community of sister cities in Africa

• Greater opportunity for activities and events

• Increased media coverage/visibility • Uniformity and organized network for

better and quicker delivery of exchange programs

• Attract grant giving organizations

Duplicate Sidi Moumen

Cultural Center

• Duplicate the model of the Sidi Moumen Cultural Center (in Casablanca) to other African cities with US partnerships

• Create a network of support for these cultural centers

• New cultural centers modeled after an extremely successful and one of its kind cultural center that serves the poor and marginalized inhabitants of Casablanca’s first and biggest slum suburb

• Access for thousands of youth to

computers, language, culture, sports, music, art and theater programming

• Community access to a common safe space for children and adults

Create Neighborhoods

Associations

• Create neighborhood associations in current sister cities in Africa modeled after Neighborhoods Association IDMAJ of Casablanca

• IDMAJ (which means integration in Arabic) is a successful youth led organization composed of young people from these same marginalized and poor areas that it serves

• *see below for more info on IDMAJ

• A new generation of youth leaders helping the very same community they grew up in

• Community involvement in their own development

• Sustainable staffing for above mentioned cultural centers

• Dedicated volunteers ready for youth exchange programs

Develop Social Mediation

Center

• Through a recent grant from Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) awarded to IDMAJ, the Sidi Moumen Cultural Center will become the site for a new Social Mediation Center

• The center will provide, trainings in mediation and counseling for youth, families, individuals and businesses to settle disputes and promote non violent ways to resolve conflict

• A safe space for local community to resolve conflict using a third neutral party

• Decreased violence in community • Decreased family breakups due to

disputes and conflicts • Greater community cooperation

CHAPE Project

• Create the CHAPE Center (Center for Health Awareness and Prevention Education) and begin regular programming

• Health center for a poor marginalized community with little to no access to necessary basic medical needs or examinations

• Healthier neighborhood, healthier school systems, increased school attendance and higher performance and a better future

AUPAP Project • Create project related to health

problems in urban poor areas, project TBA

• Increase sustainable projects for alleviating urban poverty in Casablanca and the rest of Africa

* IDMAJ volunteers lead all activities at the Sidi Moumen Cultural Center. They have participated in hundreds of workshops and conferences within Morocco, Europe and the United States. They are trained leaders, tutors, sports coaches, theater teachers, language instructors and youth mentors.

Morocco Association of Sister Cities International

Morocco Association of Sister Cities International Headquarters: Blvd. Mohammed Kamal, Centre Commercial, Sidi Belyout 6th floor, Apt. 11

Casablanca, Morocco

Mission

Morocco is a country known for its open and tolerant culture because of its history, its traditions and its geographical position at the crossroads of continents. The open political system and civil society reflect the country’s openness toward its international surroundings, cultural, economic and political exchanges and the promotion of bilateral and multilateral relationships. With this spirit in mind, Moroccan Association of Sister Cities International was created to strengthen bilateral and multilateral relationships between cities in Morocco and the United States. This exchange of people and ideas provides each community with a stake in the construction of a modern and open society.

Objectives The “Moroccan Association of Sister Cities International" was created:

• To promote the constitution of the exchange and partnership between

American and Moroccan cities • Assist all potential regions and cities in the initial phase of research in

order to identify and establish partnerships between Moroccan and American cities

• To assist in the production of all documentation, paperwork and initial research needed for the candidacy application

• To provide the expertise of all of our members and founders as well as their international network of contacts in order to facilitate the creation of a sister cities committee between Moroccan and American cities

• To provide advice, training and support to the members of sister cities Moroccan American committees in order for them to better understand and assume duties necessary to run a successful exchange

• The first and foremost duty of the association is to represent Morocco and all sister cities committees in front of “Sister Cities International”. This representation is not exclusive to all other representative roles the association has taken.

• To grow regional and international in the second phase and promote regional and international partnerships.

New Vision

Be a platform for Morocco to further the development of SCI partnerships between our country and the

United States of America

Be initiators and promoters of new programs and activities that will strengthen the ties between Morocco and the United States of America

Encourage innovation and creativity to further the objectives of our association and those of Sister

Cities International in the region

Be a financially sustainable organization by increasing our donor and funder base and expanding stakeholder interest worldwide

Be advocates of youth development and promote exchanges at all levels

Partnerships (Current and Potential)

Current:

Casablanca / Chicago, IL Agadir/ Miami, FL Agadir/ Oakland, CA

Chefchaouen/ Issaquah, WA Marrakech / Scottsdale, AZ El Jadida/ Tacoma, WA

El Hajeb/ Council Bluffs, IA Tiznit/ Somerville, MA

Rabat-‐Sale-‐Zemmour-‐Zair-‐/ Hawaii Rabat/ Honolulu, HI

Ouarzazate / Los Angeles Friendship Agreement

Potential: Rabat/Washington D.C. Meknes/Minneapolis, MN

Sale/Alexandria or Arlington, VA Ifrane/Sante Fe, NM

Essaouira/Boca Raton, Fl Fes/Boston, MA

Marrakech / Los Angeles, CA Tangier/ Miami, FL

Layounne/New Orleans, LA Dakhla/Daytona Beach, FL or San Diego, CA

Current Sister City Partnerships

Casablanca / Chicago, IL

Agadir/ Miami, FL

Agadir/ Oakland, CA

Chefchaouen/ Issaquah, WA

Marrakech / Scottsdale, AZ

El Jadida/ Tacoma, WA

El Hajeb/ Council Bluffs, IA

Tiznit/ Somerville, MA

Rabat/ Honululu, HI

Potential Sister City Partnerships

Rabat/Washington D.C.

Meknes/Minneapolis, MN

Sale/Alexandria or Arlington, VA

Ifrane/Sante Fe, NM

Essaouira/Boca Raton, Fl

Fes/Boston, MA

Tangier/ Miami, FL

Layounne/New Orleans, LA Dakhla/Daytona Beach, FL or San Diego, CA

The Sister Cities Casablanca Chicago Association is one of the most active and effective Sister City programs in the world. Casablanca and Chicago have been Sister Cities since 1982, and over the years our partnership has grown into a strong and award-winning exchange. Our diverse committee and association members in both Chicago and Casablanca include academics, educators, physicians, lawyers, community activists, media professionals, musicians, playwrights, ambassadors and government officials.

Our joint and mutually-determined projects span medical and humanitarian initiatives, educational exchanges, urban planning, economic development, sports programs, and youth service learning programs. Ten schools in Chicago and Casablanca have established formal sister school relationships which has spurred student and teacher exchanges between the two cities. Moroccan youth from underserved neighborhoods had the opportunity to attend several youth global summits and citizen conferences in the United States. American youth, in contrast, had the chance to come to Morocco and experience Moroccan culture and values through visits and home stays. Youth sports programs—, for example, CasaBasket—, have involved hundreds of youth. CasaBasket, which has expanded into several other Moroccan cities— Salé Chaouen, and Tangier—began with 600 male and female Moroccan youth, coached in basketball and life skills, by US and Moroccan volunteers.

Other programs include a playwright program-Global Voices-which involved students from several Moroccan cities. The association, with the City of Casablanca, has also worked towards the creation of neighborhood associations such as Friends of Alesco Park for the management of a community park with artistic, sports, and cultural programming. Sister Cities Casablanca was also awarded a grant from the World Bank to develop a literacy and job readiness skills pilot project, where Moroccan and American experts worked together to identify the causes of illiteracy and suggest solutions. Sister Cities Casablanca Chicago Association also works in the underserved neighborhood of Casablanca through the IDMAJ Neighborhoods Association created in 2006 by Casa-Chicago organization. IDMAJ combats illiteracy, ignorance, delinquency, drugs and extremism, while promoting social integration, community support, citizenship, self-confidence, leadership and respect of others. This Casablanca initiative has been adopted by students and teachers in several Moroccan cities as well as Chicago and Accra. In September 2009, a delegation of young high school students and their teachers visited Casablanca to learn about the methods of the IDMAJ. Several American television channels, including ABC and NBC, as well as national and international journalists, covered this exchange.

In 2010, the association obtained a grant from Sister-Cities International for an urban poverty alleviation program with support from the Casablanca Committee of Chicago Sister-Cities. The association is also planning to create a Center for Social Mediation and Conflict Resolution with the support of Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).

This is what Sister Cities is all about: promoting understanding, mutual respect and cooperation one individual and one community at a time.

S id i Moumen Cu l tu ra l Cen te r

Sidi Moumen Cultural CenterSidi Moumen Cultural Center

Hay Rahmani, Residence RabbahBlvd Abdallah Ibrihimi, Sidi Moumen

Casablanca, Morocco

Our teamThe Sidi Moumen Cultural Center was created by the Moroccan Association of Sister Cities and is operated by an extremely dedicated and hardworking group of volunteers from the members of neighborhoods Associaiton IDMAJ.

IDMAJ, meaning ʻintegrationʼ in Arabic, is a non profit association created in 2006 with over 150 members from underprivileged and marginalized areas around Casablanca. They are high school and university students, community organizers, scouts, productive and successful young adults who volunteer their time for the development of Moroccan society.

In addition, we have many professionals, artists, athletes, teachers and professors who volunteer their time teaching courses and offering their expertise.

Center HoursTuesday-Saturday 2:30 pm-9:30 pmSunday 9:30 am-7:30 pm

Contact uswww.sistercitiesafrica.org

[email protected]@gmail.comOffice: (+212) 522 45 02 08Cell: (+212) 661 37 35 34

(+212) 673 11 72 35

Facebook: Neighbourhoodsassociation IDMAJ

Centre Culturel Sidi Moumen

EducationArt

Languages

Computers

Leadership

Citizenship Music

BasketballLacrosseTheater

Boyscouts

Football

For supportAttijariwafa bank

Succursale Casa ExtensionAccount # 007780 0000001247001208 95

Field Hockey

MissionOur mission at the Sidi Moumen Cultural Center is to encourage at risk children and vulnerable youth to stay in school and avoid delinquency, drug addiction and extremism. Through various activities, we provide opportunities for these children to be good citizens and future leaders.

HistoryThe Sidi Moumen Cultural Center was created in October 2007 by the Moroccan Association of Sister Cities Casablanca Chicago. It is managed by Neighborhoods Association IDMAJ.

Objectives- Provide a safe, educational, cultural and sportive space for youth- Facilitate contact with mentors and role models- Promote understanding, tolerance and mutual respect

Center Statistics373 youthReading room with over 4,400 books6 classrooms with 200 student total capacity5 televisions and 1 data show35 desktop computers, 7 CD playersLarge outdoor fenced-in gardenOffice and storage roomMusical equipment (ouds, guitars, violins, drums, keyboards)Sewing roomNewspaper standSports equipment (basketbal, soccer, hockey, lacrosse, basketball hoops)Theater, art classroom


Activities

Iqraa (Read) Program English/French/Arabic

Language Classes French English

After school tutoring

Sports Programs Football Field Hockey Lacrosse Basketball League

Music and Art Courses Oud/Guitar lessons Percussion lessons Silk Art/painting Theater

Boy Scouts Branch

Computer Literacy Courses

Civic Education classes

The Sidi Moumen Cultural Center also hosts a variety of conferences on topics such as immigration, unemployment, social work, cultural understanding and citizenship. It also encourages and organizes student exchanges.


Why Sidi MoumenSidi Moumen, one of Moroccoʼs first shanty towns, is a sprawling poor neighborhood on the outskirts of Casablanca with a population of over 350,000 residents. The area first started as a shanty town as a result of urbanization and rural migration towards Moroccoʼs metropolitan areas. Now it covers 47 square kilometers, a city within a city.

The neighborhood was made infamous in 2003 by being home to all 14 suicide bombers involved in the Casablanca bombings. These bombings were the deadliest attacks Morocco has seen, killing over 40 people in the center of Casablanca.


The Mazoz Method The method is very simple. We care for kids and we show this care by action. We help them change their attitudes and behaviors not through advice but by giving examples. We work from our hearts, believe in what we do and have faith in the kids. We don't spoil them, we simply give them opportunity. We don't tell them what to do but show them what to do. We donʼt criticize their language but teach them another language. We don't show pity for what they lack but value what they already have. We try to make them believe in themselves, gain self esteem and self confidence. We help them to be strong, determined and proud of who they are and where they are from. These kids live in a tough environment, have lost hope and lost trust in their surroundings. They are tired of words and no longer believe in promises. They have been used and misused by everybody. They feel the injustice, live the injustice, see the injustice and neither them nor their parents or grandparents have or had the power to change things. They are smart, brilliant and talented but simply were not given the opportunity. Therefore, they should be given the opportunity. We have to be very careful with what we say to them and how we treat them. We should talk less and act more. We should listen instead of giving orders. We should explain instead of giving instructions. We should show them the right way without criticizing the wrong ways they are used to. They are accustomed to imitating the negative behavior of their surroundings, including that of parents and siblings, who may be delinquents, alcoholic and drug addicts. The youths are victims of physical and psychological abuse by almost everyone around them. Many kids live with a single parent, usually the mother. Today many of these kids have started treating IDMAJ as surrogate family. Through its staff of volunteers, IDMAJ offers them the tenderness, affection, warmth and care. In IDMAJ they can hear gentle, soothing words. With IDMAJ they are valued, supported and treated humanely. Is this a successful method? So far it has proven to be so.

.

What is IDMAJ? The full name is Neighborhoods Association IDMAJ.

IDMAJ means “integration” in Arabic.

Why IDMAJ IDMAJ grew out of a desire for youth to help other youth. It was first created to empower youth and help them integrate their own positive values in their peers who come from the underserved and marginalized ranks of society. Its members are trained to become leaders in their societies and positive citizens of their countries. Through workshops on leadership, team work, volunteerism, citizenship, mutual respect and tolerance, members are prepared to work among at risk kids and vulnerable youth in their own communities and neighborhoods. More than 90 percent of IDMAJ members come from disadvantaged circumstances in underserved, modest or poor neighborhoods. They know intrinsically the needs, preoccupations, hopes and frustrations of the young population of these neighborhoods. They serve as examples to all the kids. They can show them the way and help them differentiate between good and bad. Through action, passion and patience, they lead the way for others to follow, convince them that with education, hard work, perseverance, dignity and faith they can leave misery behind and pave a way for a prosperous future. IDMAJ gives these youths opportunity and hope for the future and helps them to maintain a positive, goal-oriented attitude to become good citizens and future leaders who will be able to contribute to the development of their community and country.

ObjectivesEncourage citizens to take

responsibility for action in their own neighborhoods and communities;

Participate in the organization of cultural, educational, economic,

technological and sports activities;

Engage the population in individual and collective efforts to improve the

quality of life;

Encourage optimal development of each individual within his/her culture

and locality;

Fight against delinquency and marginalization, mainly among the

youth;

Encourage schooling and offer tutoring as an educational support to

decrease school drop outs/failure and increase the rate of success;

Teach civic education and civic awareness through action

The BoardBoubker Mazoz, President Founder

[email protected]

Soukaina Hamia, [email protected]

Hind Edhadeh, Vice [email protected]

Hussein Akhabaz, Vice President [email protected]

Rabab Rmaini, General Secretary [email protected]

Nicole Matuska, Deputy Secretary [email protected]

Loubna Knouzi, [email protected]

Hassan Aaddak, Deputy [email protected]

Ilyass Boujnal, Advisor [email protected]

Assmae El Assemy, Advisor [email protected]

Abdelouahed Asra, Advisor [email protected]

Hasnaa Oumimoun, [email protected]

ContactBd. Mohamed Kmal, Im Sidi Belyout

6th Floor Apt. No. 1, Casablanca, MoroccoOffice: (+212) 522 45 02 08Cell: (+212) 661 37 35 34

Facebook: Neighbourhoodsassociation IDMAJ

Centre Culturel Sidi Moumen

Neighborhoods Association

IDMAJ

An essential feature of IDMAJ is that there is no great difference in age between its members and the

target population and beneficiaries. The kids in the marginal areas of Casablanca served by IDMAJ

Neighborhood Association see themselves in the IDMAJ youth leaders. Therefore, they trust them,

listen to them and imitate them. They see that it is possible to have a bright future and that there is a

place for them in this wonderful world.

IDMAJ brings hope, allows powerful dreams to develop and provides opportunity.

IDMAJ presents a totally different vision from what the youth are familiar with, providing new models

that exemplify a meaningful way of life.

IDMAJ tries to consolidate family ties, brings kids closer to their parents and helps parents take care of

their kids by showing love and support.

With IDMAJ, we try to protect at risk kids and vulner-able youth through cultural programs, extra curricu-lar activities, tutoring, civic education and the human

values of generosity, solidarity and love.

Recent Activities Chicago Youth Delegation Summer 2009

A youth delegation from five Chicago high schools visited the Sidi Moumen Cultural Center in order to learn more about IDMAJ Neighborhoods Association and the Mazoz Method in hopes of replicating the work in Chicago. The visit was covered by ABC and NBC as well as national and international press.

Sewing Cooperative, Casablanca January 2010 – Present

Our associations organized professional sewing training for women in the low income area of Al Hofra in Casablanca. We purchased sewing machines for the graduates of the program and helped them create their own sewing cooperative in order to become financially independent and support their families.

Anima Choir Concert with Sidi Moumen Choir Sunday, July 4, 2010

Anima Choirs is a youth choir from Chicago, IL. They preformed in Casablanca with our very own Sidi Moumen Cultural Center Choir (Sidi Moumen youth ages between 8-‐18) as well as the Sidi Moumen Stars, the cultural center’s drum and percussion band which has played throughout Casablanca at various events.

Long Island Youth Orchestra July 11 – 19th, 2010

The Long Island Youth Orchestra was founded 47 years ago in Long Island, NY. The orchestra consists of over 100 members and the orchestra has made 37 concert tours to almost every continent on the globe playing in over 100 cities worldwide. In July, the Orchestra made a tour in Morocco, hosted by Morocco Association of Sister Cities International. They played free concerts throughout the cities of Marrakesh, Casablanca, Rabat, Mekes and Ifrane.

“The Anatomy of Peace Training-‐Cyprus” July 25-‐30, 2010

PeacePlayers-‐Cyprus hosted an international peace through sport training titled “the Anatomy of peace training”. The training was held in Agros village with the participation of 7 different countries: America, Ireland, South Africa, Middle East, Bulgaria, Cyprus and Morocco. Four members from Neighborhoods Association IDMAJ took part and as a follow up will host two coaches from PeacePlayers on March 11-‐13th, 2011 in Casablanca for training at the Sidi Moumen Cultural Center.

Journalism Workshop by Marissa Katz and IDMAJ December 2010

Freelance journalist Marissa Katz returned to Sidi Moumen Cultural Center for the center’s second journalism training workshop. Along with IDMAJ and Mr. Boubker Mazoz, she initiated Words for Change (www.wordsforchange.org), a long-‐term program at the center to teach youth journalism and blogging techniques in order to write about the issues in their lives and in their community. The program was initially sponsored by the US Embassy.

African Urban Poverty Alleviation (AUPAP) Workshop February 7-‐11, 2011

Morocco Association of Sister Cities International hosted and co-‐organized the AUPAP Workshop for over 30 African and American program managers and municipal leaders who are current recipients of the AUPAP grant from Sister Cities International to create programs/projects that alleviate poverty in urban areas. Casablanca is a recipient of one of these grants.

Autism in Color Art exhibition February 24, 2011

The Sidi Moumen Cultural Center hosted the event Austim in Color, an art exhibition raising awareness of autism in Morocco and worldwide. The event was organized by Neighborhoods Association IDMAJ and Iman Chair, the artist and mother of an autistic child in Casablanca who regularly speaks about the autism in Morocco and internationally.

US-Arab Cities Forum, December 13-14, 2010

Casablanca, Morocco

The City of Casablanca and Sister Cities Casablanca Chicago Assocaition hosted municipal leaders from all over the United States and the Arab world for the 3rd annual U.S. – Arab Cities Forum on December 13 and 14th, 2010. The aim of this forum was to share information and innovative implementing strategies in order to build local economies, overcome common obstacles and create a more global dialogue among community leaders. This year’s forum focused on four main topics:

• Culture and the creative economy, emerging platforms for development • The role of information technology in building city-to-city relationships • Dialogue and the gender approach: Determining factors in the quality of the public decision • Sustainable cities: stakes, tools and challenges

The first U.S. – Arab Mayor Forum, initiated by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley and co-hosted by Mayor Omar Maani of Amman, Jordan, and Mayor Mohamed Sajid of Casablanca, Morocco, was held in Chicago, IL on April 20-30, 2008. More than 50 municipal leaders from the United States, Canada and the Arab world attended the meeting. The conference agenda focused on several major topics: economic development, improved quality of life, education, youth, environment and sustainability. The second forum, hosted by Mayor Maani in Amman, Jordan, took place on June 22-23, 2009. This forum focused on the topics of good governance, children and youth related programs, community planning/urban regeneration, transport, mobility, economics and investment. “As mayors and leaders of municipal government, we share the same challenges. And as technology continues to advance, we all are faced with the challenge and opportunity of living and working in a global economy,” said Mayor Richard M. Daley. “We are also on the front lines when it comes to dealing with issues like transportation, education, crime and the environment on behalf of our residents.” Mayor Maani pointed out the importance of this forum by saying, “The municipal challenges are relatively the same among all cities and our gathering during this forum will give us the opportunity to learn and share best practices to better serve our citizens.” Mayor Sajid added that “By organizing this significant event, the City of Casablanca is taking its turn to contribute to the strengthening of the relationship between local governments in the United States and Arab countries.”

2011

Upcoming Programs

Sister Cities International Selects 17 U.S. Cities to Lead

Infrastructure-Building Projects in Africa

Projects to address sanitation, health, and water issues in urban areas

WASHINGTON, DC — Sister Cities International announces today that 17 U.S. cities and their African counterparts were selected to develop projects to address sanitation, health, and water issues in urban areas of Africa. The new selection brings the total to 24 U.S.-African city pairs participating in the Africa Urban Poverty Alleviation Program (AUPAP), a three-year project funded by a $7.5 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. "This Sister Cities International program represents a major effort to address the fundamental needs of citizens of urban areas in Africa," said Patrick Madden, President and CEO, Sister Cities International. "As we've seen during the first year, U.S. communities are eager to roll up their sleeves, identify areas of need, develop cooperative solutions and get to work. I'm very confident these 24 city projects will have an immediate impact on urban poverty and leave an enduring legacy." The 17 cities were part of a competitive proposal process and selected by an independent panel of experts in the areas of city-to-city assistance, and international development. Each city pairing will have a budget of up to $115,000 to apply to their projects, in addition to travel funds. The recipients include:

• Baltimore, Maryland, and Luxor, Egypt • Chicago, Illinois, and Casablanca, Morocco • Delray Beach, Florida, and Moshi, Tanzania • Durham, North Carolina, and Arusha, Tanzania • Jacksonville, Florida, and Port Elizabeth, South Africa • Long Beach, California, and Mombasa, Kenya • Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, and Buffalo City, South Africa • Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and uMhlathuze, South Africa • Oakland, California, and Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana • Richmond, Virginia, and Segou, Mali • Riverside, California, and Obuasi, Ghana • Seattle, Washington, and Mombasa, Kenya • Sonoma, California, and Aswan, Egypt • St. Louis, Missouri, and St. Louis, Senegal • Toledo, Ohio, and Tanga, Tanzania • Urbana, Illinois, and Zomba, Malawi • Wilmington, Delaware, and Osogbo, Nigeria

AUPAP, administered in cooperation with the Africa Global Sister Cities Foundation, is designed to address urban poverty through water, health, and sanitation projects developed collaboratively by U.S. and African sister city programs. This includes involvement and support from the private sector, NGOs, community-based organizations, municipal governments and traditional leaders in Africa to provide sustained technical assistance and community development strategies. Beyond improving the state of sanitation, health, and water infrastructures in urban areas of Africa, this project is aimed at accomplishing Sister Cities International's mission of promoting peace and prosperity through international people-to-people collaboration. About Sister Cities International Sister Cities International promotes peace through mutual respect, understanding and cooperation by focusing exchanges and public programs on sustainable and economic development, youth and education, arts and culture, and humanitarian assistance. More information about Sister Cities International can be found at www.sister-cities.org. Facebook: Sister Cities International; Twitter: SisterCityIntl

African Urban Poverty Alleviation Program Project Proposal Title : Local Ministry of Health Clinic

Casablanca Sister City Local Community Committee Representative

Name Position Email Tel Boubker Mazoz Project Manager [email protected] +212 665

167 389

Project Description The main focus of this project is to provide support to a local health clinic (run by the Ministry of Health) through the donation of much needed equipment/medical materials, the renovation of toilets and the construction/renovation of additional rooms. Our project will provide a more sanitary environment inside and outside the clinic, needed computers and equipment to better organize patients and their files. Ultimately we want to increase the amount of patients seen by a doctor and treated or counseled through the renovation of space within and outside the clinic and through the donation of much needed medical and general equipment currently not available at the clinic. Background and History The Municipality of Sidi Moumen incorporates a total of fifteen zones in which reside approximately 350,000 inhabitants. This Terms of Reference will deal with a specific sector of that municipality in which reside approximately 63,000 people, 4,900 of them are from one of Sidi Moumen’s biggest and poorest slums, Rahama. Sidi Moumen is a low-income suburb on the outskirts of Casablanca and home to some of the country’s first slums. The area has been neglected by citywide infrastructure improvements and the inhabitants still lack access to many basic services such as decent and affordable health care, education, and other public and social services. The area has high unemployment and high school dropout rates, as well as pervasive drug use among youth. Because this area has become notorious over the past decade for being home to all suicide bombers of two recent suicide bombing attacks and attempts in Casablanca, the government and civil society have begun an earnest investment in the area to eliminate the conditions of poverty and desperation that may have led to those extreme acts. Nonetheless, the population is large and many inhabitants have still not been reached. Current Problem A current issue that needs to be addressed in Sidi Moumen is pre-natal and post birth education, counseling, screenings and check ups, family planning and early childhood diseases treatments and vaccinations. The lack of these services cause severe health problems both demographics: mothers and young children. Mothers, lacking access to proper education, counseling and treatment for both prenatal and postnatal phases negatively affect both the mother herself and her unborn or born child. This causes increased instances of diseases among women giving birth and among children born to uneducated mothers. Some of these childhood diseases include: diabetes, malnutrition, underweight infants, growth problems etc. Children also lack access to basic vaccinations and mothers lack access to education concerning what vaccinations their children should have at each age. The mortality rate for the region, according to Ministry of Health records for the year 2009, is 1%. However, 15% of the children born are severely underweight, one of the highest percentages in the region. Scope of the Project This project will support a local Ministry of Health Clinic located in Sidi Moumen. The support will fall under two categories: 1. Construction to renovate the current building 2. Equipment and material support for treatment programs, awareness sessions and general clinic needs.

Youth Leadership and Sports Festival

Mutual understanding through dialogue, cultural exchange and sports

Location: Bouznika, Morocco Date: December 2011/January 2012 Countries: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African

Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, United States of America

Participants: Each African country and each of the 13 cities in the

United States will send 2 youth representatives between the ages of 14-18 as well as one chaperone.

Total: 100 participants Organizers: Sister Cities Africa Objective: 1. To lay the foundation for a network of youth leaders in

Africa 2. Create a dialogue between African youth themselves and

between African and American youth 3. Use sports as a tool to promote culture exchange,

mutual understanding, and leadership Sister Cities Africa

Sister Cities Africa, which is an official partner of Sister Cities International based in D.C., is a non-profit organization aimed at creating, reinforcing, developing and maintaining sister cities partnerships between cities in Africa and the United States of America. Our mission is to propose, coordinate and help implement cultural exchanges in the fields of education, arts, music, sports and business at the municipal and community level and strengthen bilateral and multilateral relations between people in Africa and the United States of America. We intend to build global cooperation at local levels, promote understanding and mutual respect, and stimulate economic development.

Program The 1st Youth Leadership and Sports Festival is a one-week program for 68 youth representatives from 13 African nations and the 12 cities in the United States. The participants will actively participate in a series of workshops and roundtable discussions based on pre-determined themes, learn conflict resolution, leadership and cultural traditions and values through sports and engage in creating a network of youth leaders in sister cities in order to strengthen African people’s relationships with one another and with their sister city counterparts in the United States.

The program will be composed of four main components

Roundtable discussions and

workshops

These workshops will be led and mediated by experts in each field from several African countries and the United States. Participants will engage in a series of seminars, small group discussions, practical workshops and presentations by international NGOs based on the following themes

1. Youth engagement in civil and political life 2. Role of grassroots organizations in sustainable community

development (fundraising, NGO management etc.) 3. Role of cultural, economic and education exchanges 4. Mediation and conflict resolution (inter-personal, sports violence)

Each theme will have several subthemes and break out sessions focused on different aspects

Objective: to create a dialogue from diverse perspectives on issues directly affecting African and American communities, engage youth in this dialogue and demonstrate how they can address these issues on local levels

Sports activities

Traditional sport workshops: Introduction workshops and practices for various alternative or traditional sports from around the world Objective: To create an environment of discovery and creativity by allowing the participants to learn a new sport together and expand their cultural understanding of various cultures through sport Examples include but are not limited to: • Lacrosse ( or tewaraathon, traditional Native American game played in

parts of the United States) • Cricket (traditional British game played in various parts of the world) • ta kurt om el mahag (tradition Berber bat and ball game) • Karssa (a traditional field hockey like game practiced in various parts

of Africa as well as Morocco, has many different names depending on where played in Africa)

• Dambe (traditional boxing sport in Nigeria) • Numba (tradition Sudaneese wrestling sport) • Badminton (traditional native American game) • Skateboarding (alternative sport, American culture) • Beach volleyball Sports tournament: The participants will form teams and take part in a friendly tournament (both basketball and football) playing on mixed teams of males and females as well as mixed nationalities.

Objective: To allow the participants to learn from each other the value of teamwork, leaderships and self-confidence in a team setting in a sport they are familiar with

Leadership and teamwork workshops: The participants will take part in several workshops that focus on games and activities that highlight the need for leadership and teamwork on and off the sports field Objective: To demonstrate the importance of effective leadership and impact of teamwork in group settings, among people of different nationalities, cultures and genders.

Field trips to Rabat and Marrakesh

Objective: To meet with officials, NGO leaders and experience the many faces of Morocco and its people

Cultural presentations for

closing Gala

The participants will prepare cultural presentations, which they feel reflect their communities best and present these (whether in the form of dance, art, music, poetry, fashion show, powerpoint etc.) at the closing Gala. There will also be an exhibition village, where each country and culture will have the opportunity to display crafts, photos, paintings, literature, and traditional dress at small booths. Objective: To showcase the cultural heritage of each individual community attending, whether African or American, to search for common points between communities, respect and understand differences and to initiate a dialogue for future partnerships

Why this is needed

In a world full of digital connectedness and unprecedented access to media and information, there still exists a significant ignorance or misunderstanding of cultural differences between African communities themselves and between African communities and American communities. The best way to overcome these misconceptions and misunderstanding is by gathering people together, especially youth, to engage in dialogue face to face, this is the idea of people to people diplomacy . Through discussion and debate on important issues affecting communities throughout the world, we learn from different perspectives, respect opinions and together come up with interesting solutions, better understanding and long lasting friendships. Points of Contact

Mr. Boubker Mazoz President/CEO of Sister Cities Africa Cell: +212 (0) 665 167 389 Email: [email protected]

Nicole Matuska Program and Sponsoring Manager, Sister Cities Africa Cell: +212 (0)6 19 60 11 44 Email: [email protected]

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Family and Community Mediation Project

Project Title: Family and Community Mediation Program

Implementer: Neighborhoods Association IDMAJ

Start Date: September 1st, 2011 End Date: August 31, 2012

Country(ies): Morocco

1. Project Description

The Moroccan NGO IDMAJ, through the project Family and Community Mediation Program aims at educating individuals and groups on the Mudawana (Family Law) and to create a forum that will help individuals and groups acquire conflict resolution skills to resolve their day-to-day family and community problems. Activities will be implemented over a twelve-month period. The primary objectives of the activities include: improving the skills of social workers to peacefully resolve family conflicts and increasing the number of resolved conflicts through strengthening the capacity of Civil Society activists and volunteers.

Intended Outcome: Civic culture exists that supports the active participation of all individuals in social life: improved skills and capacities of social workers to peacefully resolve family conflicts. Objective 1: Social workers’ skills in conflict resolution increased.

Definition: Workshop participants will be trained to identify the principles and methods of effective family-level conflict resolution. 90 volunteers will be split into three groups of 30 each. The training will take place over 3 sessions, each session will have a group of 30 social mediation trainees.

Target: 90 Definition: # of educational programs with content supporting tolerance and trust.

Target: 2 Objective 2: Instances of successful conflict resolution increased.

Definition: Social worker or volunteer mediation of conflict situations results in peaceful resolution of disputes or end to violence.

Target: 20

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Activity Program preparations involve identifying three trained social workers. Three trainers and one supervisor (all trained social workers) will be respected men and women with experience in social mediation who can share their experience and knowledge in the field. This team, along with other experts and specialists, including members of IDMAJ, will create the curriculum for the social mediation training. The trainees will learn how to win the trust of people in their communities. Their behavior within and outside the community should be exemplary and their reputation clean. They will learn speaking techniques, listening techniques, behavioral techniques while mediating difficult situations. They will learn how to compare and use the old and new mediation and conflict resolution methods. The trainees will learn about the Mudawana law, behavioral approaches, language to be used in conflicts, listening methods, analysis capability, fairness and balance of judgment, undertaking investigation, discretion, how to earn respect, and showing leadership and understanding while resolving conflicts and settling disputes. Volunteer Social workers are volunteers selected among the neighborhood’s credible, trustworthy and respected people. With or without prior experience, they will attend a training program to be given by three professional social worker trainers. These social workers are being interviewed right now. The only one accepted so far is: Jihad Balghzal who holds a English language License and a diploma in social worker. The volunteer mediators who are being trained will provide a framework for people in conflict to sit down together and discuss and resolve issues respectfully and peacefully rather than going through courts.

The materials to be used will be developed by these three professional trainers as well as a group of professionals from different fields, notably, Pr.Driss Moussaoui. Psychiatrist, Dr. Soumaya Naamane, Sociologist and Teacher, Dr. Aboubaker Harakat, Psychologist and Sexologist, Dr. Brahim Benbrahim, Psychiatrist, Dr. Jamal Khalil, Sociologist, Maitre Zhor Lhor, Family Judge, Ahmed Abaddi, Secretary General of the League of Oulama, Maitre Aicha Loukhmas, President of Women Rights, Centre d’Ecoute for Battered Women and Lawyer, Serghini Saadia, Clinical Psychologist, and Teacher, Abla Esmili, Sociologist

Activity 1.1. Hold counseling sessions and mediation initiatives to resolve family-level conflicts peacefully.

There is much violence in these poor and marginalized communities. Poverty, population density, unemployment and inadequate living conditions create an environment of tension, which results in conflict. Fighting becomes an expression of self-assertion and of ways to demonstrate power. Mediators will use methods that make these protagonists in conflict regain their dignity and teach them how they can resolve their conflicts peacefully.

The venue will be Sidi Moumen Cultural Center and Sidi Belyout office. Our association has two centers in the two neighborhoods. The main venue will be the Sidi Moumen Cultural Center, which has fully equipped classrooms and a projector for all training activities. Sidi Belyout will be used from time to time and whenever needed. Volunteer mediators will also work with schools, courts, legal services, city government, neighbors, families, and youth.

Board Members of Sister Cities Africa – People to People Diplomacy

Boubker Mazoz, President/Founder

Boubker Mazoz has over 40 years of experience in exchanges between Morocco and the United States in the fields of education, culture, music, sports and business. From 1979 to 2010 he has worked for the United States Department of State as resource manager, Library Director and Public Affairs Specialist with the Public Affairs and Public Diplomacy section of the US Embassy, Morocco. Mazoz has initiated and organized an impressive number of programs and exchanges for individuals, groups and institutions representing different backgrounds and fields of interest.

Aside from his former official position at the US Department of State, he has been heavily involved in NGO and non-profit work. He founded, initiated and is an active member of numerous organizations and associations. He was a member of the International Executive Board of Directors of Sister Cities International in Washington DC and currently is a member of the Honorary Board. Mazoz is President/Founder of Sister Cities Africa – People to People Diplomacy, in charge of promoting sister cities partnerships in the Arab Maghreb and Francophone Africa. He is the founding president of Neighborhoods Association IDMAJ, Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Moroccan American Circle (MAC), the Moroccan Intellectual Association (AIM) and Morocco Association of Sister Cities International. He is also a founding member of Rotary Club Californie and Hermitage. Mazoz is the director of the Sidi Moumen Cultural Center, which he founded in 2006, and SCI consultant for US/ Muslim World partnerships. Mazoz’s work and dedication has been recognized by many and was covered by major national and international news outlets including MSNBC, ABC, Time Magazine, the National, Vogue Magazine, Jeune Afrique, Marianne and Agence France Press as well as the national Moroccan press to name a few.

Mohamed El Amine Moumine, Vice President

University Professor, Director General of Moulay Rachid Cultural Center

Nabila Freidji, Vice President (President and CEO, Cash One)

Oussama Esmili, Secretary General (General Manager of IDEO)

Soukaina Hamia, Treasurer

Najah Elhallou, Advisor (Architect)

Abdelmalek Kettani, Advisor (President of the US- Morocco Business Council, CGEM)

Wifak Lahlou, Advisor (Director of Programs at 2M TV)

Rafik Kamal Lahlou, Advisor (Director of Publications)


Bd Mohamed Kamal, Im Sidi Belyout

6th Floor, Apt. 11 Casablanca, Morocco

Office: (+212) 522 45 02 08

Fax: (+212) 522 44 40 69

Contacts

Sister Cities Africa Moroccan Association of Sister Cities

International Neighborhoods Association IDMAJ

Sidi Moumen Cultural Center

Boubker Mazoz President Founder and General Manager [email protected] Cell: (+212) 665167389

Neighborhoods Association IDMAJ

Soukaina Hamia IDMAJ President [email protected] Cell: (+212) 673117235 Rabab Rmaini IDMAJ Secretary General [email protected] Cell: (+212) 664519062

Website www.sistercitiesafrica.org

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NeighbourhoodsAssociation Idmaj Centre Culturel Sidi Moumen

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