Asni Family Trip Report 2016

ASNI FAMILY TRIP

2016 ASNI - MOROCCO Led by The Kindred Project in collaboration with Association Tiwizi 1st to 5th November 2016

We are delighted to share the report of The Kindred Projects' first ever family expedition to Asni, Morocco with our partners Association Tiwizi.

The 26 pioneering family members, teachers, students and alumni's returned after half term happy and healthy having had a wonderful experience in Asni! Ages ranging from 5 to 50's experienced the magic of Asni by spending time with and getting involved in projects with our friends at Association Tiwizi.

We were lucky enough to pick the saffron at the association, which was very special. The saffron now is a sustainable social enterprise that provides a key source of income for the community. The families built a library for the local girl's boarding house, visited and interacted with students at the local secondary school, painted a climate change inspired mural and helped with their garden. We also took part in a football tournament, shot a music video, arranged and led fun learning activities for 50 young children, visited the organic bee hives, trekked in the High Atlas Mountains, jumped in a waterfall and most importantly made new friends.

“I can say that our success has depended on the support given by Sotogrande International School and it now wonderful to be able to share our dream and reality with families.” Hassan Edderjoun, President of Association Tiwizi

This expedition offered families a unique experience to develop intercultural understanding and take community action. All 26 families got directly involved in working hand-in-hand with the Asni community members, engaged in new challenging experiences and built new friendships.

The Kindred Project are enormously grateful for these unique opportunities and friendships that Association Tiwizi and the community of Asni continue to give us, year after year.

“This has been one of the best journey’s I have ever had.” Alba Garcia, SIS P4

Donations for Asni waiting to be loaded

On board the Marrakech Express on our way to Asni

T-Shirts from ‘The Moment’ event with donations ready for the children’s activities

Association Tiwizi is a Moroccan nongovernmental association created in 1998, which works in the areas of socioeconomic development, environmental protection and capacity building.

Association Tiwizi also meets the social and economic needs of the rural local community of Asni, as well supporting the development of cultural and sporting activities.

Sotogrande International School and the Kindred Project have been working closely with Association Tiwizi since 2007.

For more information visit www.associationtiwizi.com Time to pick organic saffron grown at the Association

Once picked, the saffron needs delicately picking from the crocus

€2,019 DONATED thanks to The Moment

The funds were invested in: v €1,000 for the building of student multi-purpose space at secondary school v €265 for resources and games for the local kindergarden v €274 for school resources for girls’ boarding house v €300 to acquire a washing machine for the girl’s boarding house.

v €180 to build a small library at the girl’s boarding house

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Quotes from Families “Thank you so much for letting us stay in the association.

Seeing all of the little kids smiles just fill your heart with happiness. Over the 3 days I have been here, I have fallen in love with all of your culture and mountains. Until next time brother!”

Louis Wickersham, M1 I ran, I jumped, I trekked, I fell, I climbed, picked saffron, I danced, I sung, I laughed, I cried, I even cooked a goat and made a rap video with two local students! Most importantly however, I made new friends forever. Asni, thank you for an inspirational time, your beauty has overwhelmed me but your highest asset in my eyes will always be your people. I look forward to our next encounter.”

Sam Reynard, SIS Alumni “Thanks for hosting us. You gave me some of the most memorable experiences… I loved dancing with all of you.” Sofia Mcgee, M2 “It has been one of the best experiences of my life. I have learned so much more than I could give. You are family now and I can’t wait to come back again. Thank you for everything.”

Sara Lopez, SIS Teacher “Asni has influenced me to be more grateful for what I have in life. I feel the people at the Association are not just my friends but my family.”

Jago Wickersham, P6 “It has been a privilege for me to have been able to share a small amount of time with you in your community. I feel that although we have a lot left to do, what we are already doing together far outweighs what is left to do. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for giving me the opportunity to be here with you.”

Sonia Garcia, SIS parent

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A visit to the local secondary school.

Helping in their gardens, painting a climate change mural

A passionate presentation from the English class on climate change Mr Wicks gathers a team to build a library at the girl’s boarding house

Football, the universal language

Library completed!

Nell with inspiring English teacher, Kaoutar, at the secondary high school

Intercultural exchanges with children from Asni

Football Match at the Association

Sam filming a rap video with local students on the impact of climate

Camel Ride!

The final day spent in trekking in the Atlas Mountains

The annual after-party at the Association.

Drums and Dance!

A thought from Lucía Mier Portillo – D2 student Co-Creator of The Moment It was not until we popped our little pink bubble, and took a sneak peek at the world...the real world, that we realised how important it is that we do not lose faith in humanity; that we are all just the same, that the only barrier that prevents us from becoming a whole, is the one created in our own minds.

The Moment was an opportunity to unify the talents of the SIS community. Art, music and theatre became a peaceful weapon during those hours where we were able to connect. The moment we decided we wanted to be the change. The moment three girls exposed fragments of their hearts for the community of SIS to see. We raised over €2,000 thanks to you. We want to send a HUGE thank you, to everyone that was involved, to everyone that helped, to everyone that came, to everyone that couldn’t come but kept us vividly in their thoughts... to everyone who has accepted that the barriers and kilometres separating one world from another are imaginary, and that WE have the power to destroy them.

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THANK YOU! Expeditions like this do not happen easily... We owe the following people a HUGE thank you! ∗ Hassan Edderjoun for having the initial idea and dream to create Association Tiwizi, which today brings joy to our students, as well as hundreds of the local children. ∗ Pete Lawrence, for creating the relationship that SIS has with Hassan today and for the development of the “Saffron Project”, which is a sustainable source of income and a brilliant social entrepreneurship model. ∗ The staff at Association Tiwizi for your endless enthusiasm and caring nature. ∗ The staff and pupils at the Atlas High School for their extremely warm welcome, presentations and the invaluable time spent with our students. ∗ Fatima and the girls at Tigmi N’Isti boarding house for the fun and laughter as well as their time, patience and interaction with our families. ∗ The 26 incredible participants who took on this venture, with courage, smiles and a lot of ´inshallah´ to really connect with the local community both within the Association and within Asni itself. This really was life changing. For all of us! ∗ To Bernado Mayer of ISOCS for his wonderful photos and supporting the development of KP activities in his school. ∗ To Sam Reynard for producing an inspiring rap video with students from the local secondary school. ∗ To the entire SIS community… students, staff and parents for supporting SIS’ and KP’s global citizenship values and fundraising throughout the entire year. We couldn’t do it without you!

Enabling and empowering the voice of youth to promote education as a force for good The Kindred Project (KP) was set up in 2010 by Sotogrande International School as an independent student-led Non-Governmental Organization.

KP’s mission is to promote education as a force for good by enabling and empowering the voice of youth as agents of positive change within their communities and beyond.

To achieve this, KP is currently working on a four-year project called Force for Good, involving different community partners in Ecuador, Morocco, Spain and Uganda. This project aims to support these communities in overcoming poverty by means of increasing education quality and access, supporting social entrepreneurship models, as well as promoting values of global citizenship.

Are you interested in working handin-hand with other young people and community members, here and abroad, to understand and overcome together some of the challenges faced?

Another amazing experience...

Bring on Asni 2017!

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YOU CAN HAVE A VALUABLE ROLE IN CREATING CHANGE FOR THE BETTER!