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Youth Club and Manga Art in Tangier

Volunteering
 
Dragon Tangier is a youth center in Tangier, which originated from a group that was interested in Japanese manga art, but now also takes up activities from various areas of creative design and environmental protection. As a volunteer you can run your own workshops in the creative field.
 

What is your placement organisation doing?

 
In 2008, a group of young Moroccans sharing their passion for Japanese Manga comics, founded "DRAGON TANGER". The idea was to use manga comics for educational purposes, to approach youth in Morocco to literature, writing and arts, to stimulate their potentials and talents, and to open their minds and horizons without giving up their cultural identity and customs. The style of the members of the group, which also includes many girls, is an interesting fusion of Japanese manga style with Moroccan influences. The group is quite unique in Morocco and in contact with manga artists from other Arab countries and Japan.
 
Since then, the activities of the group, who in the meantime has moved into a larger space at the city centre of Tangier, have considerably expanded, now including theater play, music and video production, language lessons, various arts activities, and environmental conservation and campaigning. Every afternoon on weekdays, and on weekends during the whole day, the centre becomes populated by children and youth who are from various socioeconomic backgrounds, and who are paying a small fee for attending the activities.
 
Since its inception, the organization has implemented numerous programs and activities:
 
  • Realization of the magazine MANGASHI, a manga comic with the purpose of sensitizing its readers about topics related to environment and society.
  • Regular environmental activities such as cleaning forests and presenting documentaries about environmental topics
  • Realization of the "MANGAEXPO“, an exhibtion including conferences and workshops about manga and anime, taking place annually in springtime. For the expo, fancy character dresses are being designed and made by the youth.
  • The youth club now can make use of a complete studio for music production and technical equipment for video production. The youth run an internet forum and Youtube channel.
 

How can you get involved?

 
Volunteers can assist and independently work on:
 
  • Giving art-related workshops such as origami, drawing, manga, material recycling for use in arts, model-making etc.
  • Teaching theatre acting and dance
  • Giving lessons in drawing, design, comic, animation, AV media production, multimedia, manga and anime culture. The group wants to establish "Moroccan Manga" and "Moroccan Anime cell animation" as a sub-genre of its own right, and promote it within the Arabic-speaking world; also they want to promote cultural exchange and communication between Moroccan and Japanese youth.
  • Designing and tailoring dresses for the MANGAEXPO
  • Teaching Japanese language
  • Participating in the implementation of the magazine MANGASHI and the MANGAEXPO.
 
On weekdays, the youth club is open from 4-8pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, the centre is open full day. Ideally, volunteers should have at least basic knowledge of French language; however it is also possible to communicate in English and Spanish. Volunteers have the opportunity to suggest their own ideas for workshops and activities and implement them at Dragon Tanger. A particularly good time for this is during the Moroccan school holidays, when the youth club opens full day including weekdays, so there is plenty of time for intensive workshops for several hours a day.
Info Box
General
Location: Tangier, Morocco
Availability: All year, Start date flexible
Minimum Duration: 1 weeks
Maximum Duration: 6 months
Language Requirements: English or French or Spanish or Arabic
Further Languages Of Advantage: Japanese
Accommodation: Shared Accommodation in Tangier
Internship
Supervision Possible: No
Qualification Of Supervisor: -
Minimum Qualification Of Intern: -
Further Contribution To Project: -
Volunteering
Volunteering Possible: Yes
Required Qualification For Volunteer: None
Further Contribution To Project: -
Expectations:
Professional Conduct, Do you have the "right" attitude?
 
 

Accommodation in Tangier

 

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Shared Accommodation in Tangier:

In Tangier, we can make use of two appartments which are shared by our participants. The apartments are located in modern buildings in the city centre of Tangier. All popular sites of the city, the medina, the kasbah, shops, restaurants and the locations of many volunteering/internship organizations are easily reachable by foot or using inexpensive small taxis.
 
The buildings are located in areas of upper income levels. We have choosen these locations, as they are the only parts of Tangier where even at night it is relatively safe to be on the streets, and also as the people staying in these areas are the only ones understanding the concept of "shared apartments", where several young people, even of mixed gender, are staying together in one apartment. In other, more traditional and conservative areas of the city, we would face serious problems with the neighbours, if unmarried young people share one apartment.
 
Each of the two apartment has 4 rooms; some rooms have two beds if you want to share. Kitchen, bathroom and living room have to be shared. The apartments are of high construction quality, have modern bathrooms, and functional furniture. Both apartments have wireless internet.
 
 
 

I. World Unite! Service Package

Mobile/Cell Phone Users: If you don't see the rates for your desired duration of stay, hide other (shorter) durations of stay.
  up to 90 Days
91-180 Days   
 wu servicepackage en
1 Person
500 EUR 800 EUR      
2-4 Persons
(Rate per Person)
450 EUR 650 EUR      
 
Convert rates to USD, GBP, CAD, AUD and other currencies
 

The World Unite! Service Package includes:

 
  • Individual Consultation and Preparation prior to your arrival
  • Access to the World Unite! Online Resource Centre which has Preparation Materials including Intercultural Preparation, compiled particularly for your destination (PDFs, Videos)
  • Preparation Session via Skype, together with further participants
  • In case of duration of stay of more than 90 days, costs for extension of entrance stamp/visa
  • Pick-up and Transfers from/to Tangier (TNG) Airport, Sea Port (Tanger Ville), bus or train station, on arrival and departure
  • Personal support staff at your location and at our international office
  • Orientation and Introduction in Tangier
  • Accompanying you to your placement on your first day
  • 24 Hours emergency support by local support team
  • Local SIM Card with 20 Dh. air time
  • Issuance of Confirmations/Certificates for your university, scholarship, insurance, etc. and filling out/signing Internship Contracts for your university
  • Costs for 10 seedlings of indigenous trees that we plant on the slopes of Kilimanjaro
 

The Rates do NOT include:

 
  • Accommodation and Meals (see below)
  • Travel to/from Tangier (you book it on your own; we can assist you)
  • Insurance (Travel Health Insurance, Liability Insurance, Travel Cancellation insurance; you book it on your own, we can assist you)
  • Personal Expenses
  • Vaccinations
  • Local Transport (Estimated amounts see below)
  • Please note that for supervised/mentored internships, some organizations charge further contributions. You find this information in the "Info Box" below the respective internship description.
 

II. Accommodation Costs

 

  • Per night in a twin room (sharing): 16 EUR (per person)
  • Pro night in a single room*: 25 EUR
 
 
*Single room subject to availability
In case of 3-4 persons: Rate as 2 persons. 5 or more persons: Contact us for group rates.
 

Overview of other costs:

 
  • Visa no cost for most nationalities; in case of duration of stay of more than 90 days extension is included
  • Self-catering around 150-200 EUR (180-240 USD)/Month (Estimate)
  • Small local expenses (Local transport): around 20-50 EUR (30-60 USD)/Month (Estimate)
  • Insurance around 20-40 EUR (30-50 USD)/Month

 

How do I pay?

 
Once all your questions have been answered and you confirm that you want to participate, we will email you an invoice. You can pay it via bank transfer, credit card or via Paypal. You will pay a deposit of 200 EUR / 250 USD when the invoice is issued. One months prior to your arrival you will pay the remainder for your Service Package.
 
The payment modalities for rent and possible further costs (e.g. internship supervision fees, as stated in info box of the respective project description) depend on your host country and placement. We will inform you beforehand. In many cases these costs are paid on site, but for some countries and placements they need to be paid partially or fully in advance.
 
 
 

Other Projects That Might Interest You:

 
 
These projects are suggestions for alternatives that may interest you or those that could be chosen as COMBINATIONS. The combination of projects in different organizations is often possible and usually cheaper than two individual bookings. Please contact us to know more! Check out our other listings in the areas of "World Learner" and "Active Travel" at your travel destination to make your stay even more interesting.
 

French and Arabic/Darija Lessons in Tangier!

 
ZhorIt is always helpful to know the languages ​​of a country. We offer language classes in Tangier with a teacher who can address your specific knowledge. You can determine the intensity of teaching; we recommend a maximum of 10 hours per week. 2-3 participants who have the same level of knowledge can also take lessons together; the price per person does not change according to number of participants.
 
See the price and options in: French | Arabic/Darija
 
In the registration form, check "Language Training Required" and specify the required number of hours (minimum 20 hours).
 

Travel Health Insurance

 
We recommend the following travel insurance that is meant specifically for participants of internships, volunteering, language study, working holiday, and courses abroad. It is available for travelers of all nationalities and usable for all countries, except your home country. You can also add a journey liability insurance.
 
Just click on the link, fill in the form and you will get a confirmation email.
 
 
 
 
 

See our video about Tangier!

 
The volunteers Muriel and Wiebke show some aspects of Tangier in this video; please notice also a short feature on La Creche and Dragon Tangier youth club. The language teachers Zhor and Khadija are also featured and we see an apartment in the city center of Tangier, for participants to share.
 
 

Tangier

 
Tangier, an attractive location on the Mediterranean coast with views of southern Spain, until 1956 was an "international city" that belonged to no country, but was managed by the French, the Spanish, the British and the Italians. Due to the special legal and tax status for those settled here, the city is not only home to numerous millionaires from around the world who built opulent mansions and buildings on the 7 hills of the city which still stand today, but was also a center of international espionage - two James Bond films are playing in Tangier. The international flair also attracted well-known international writers who helped the city become a cultural melting pot.
 
The English word "Tangerine" by the way is derived from the name of this city.
 
Tangier offers an interesting combination of the Arab-Islamic world - which you will get to see in the old town, in the everyday life of the conservative the Islamic middle class and of course, during your volunteer and internship activities - and European life, because many Europeans (mainly Spanish and French) live in Tangier.
 
Social problems, in the areas where volunteers and interns may work, include lack of care for marginalized groups of society, the problem of unmarried mothers and their illegitimate children, which is denounced by the traditional Islamic society, immigration from Africa to Europe and, increasingly, street children through the decline of family structures.
 

Coordinator in Tangier

 
Our coordinators in Morocco are Souad and her daughter Yasmine.
 

Activities in Tangier

 
Around Tangier there are numerous sandy beaches, both in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic Ocean. Here you can not only swim, but also enjoy beautiful sunsets and eat fresh fish.
 
On the breezy hills around Tangier, there are numerous scenic spots. A day trip can include the picturesque town of Chefchaoen in the Rif Mountains, the historic town of Asilah and the "Caves of Hercules".
 
Multi-day trips include visits to the imperial cities of Fez, Meknes, Rabat and Marrakech, centers of Islamic art and culture, as well as a trip to the Sahara to the south of the country.
 
Tangier has a lively nightlife. Along the beach promenade and in the city, there are many restaurants with live music and discos that are filled until the wee hours on weekends. In addition, there are regular cultural events such as the Tanjazz Festival in June each year, the Tanja Latina Festival of Latin American music or Mediterranée Music Festival in July.
 
 

Getting To Tangier

marokko map
 
Book your flights to Tangier (TNG). Several budget airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet, Jet4you, Air Berlin, German Wings and TUIfly fly there. Tip: You sometimes get cheaper flights from nearby Airports in neighboring European countries such as Brussels, Paris and Milan. Often the combination of train ticket from there is the cheapest option. You can also fly to Casablanca or Fez, from where you can go by bus or train to Tangier. Those who want to tour Andalusia can also fly to Malaga, Seville and Jerez and from there, take a bus to Algeciras and then, the ferry to Tangier. We can give you details of all these forms of arrival. In Tangier, we will pick you up at the airport, seaport (Tanger Ville) or train/bus station and take you to your accommodation.
 
 
 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 
Are there fixed start dates for the project, which I must adhere to?
No, you can arrive at any date and you can hence, plan your trip according to your availability and the prices of flights. We can pick you up from the airport even at night.
Can I stay longer at my accommodation after my volunteering/internship or arrive earlier?
Yes, this is possible and we will give you our best rates. Just let us know when you arrive and leave and we will let you know the costs.
During my stay, can I travel around the country?
Of course you can travel around, almost all of our participants do so. When it comes to traveling to more distant locations (e.g. the Sahara), you can not do that over one weekend; we recommend you do this before or after your internship/volunteer work or during holiday periods (e.g. Eid-Al-Fitr) so that you do not miss days in your project.
Is it safe to travel in Morocco alone as a single female traveller?
No problem, if you follow some simple precautions, such as in relation to clothing style, dealing with local men or places that should be avoided at night, all of which we will advise you.
Will I be the only volunteer/intern in the project or in Tangier?
The total number of participants that participate simultaneously with an organization depends on the size and activity of the organization and responsibilities of volunteers/interns. We try to avoid too many volunteers/interns in an organization at the same time. It may be that you are alone in your work site, but usually there are, throughout the year, other participants in Tangier, who you can meet in your spare time, if you desire so.
What vaccinations do I need?
Our Info - PDF that you get as a participant, gives detailed information on health care. Also refer to Recommended Vaccinations
Where will I live?
In Tangier, you live in an apartment with other participants. The apartments are of good standards. You can find details in the tab "Accommodation".
Does my accommodation have internet facilities?
Yes, there is wifi internet at no extra cost .
How can I do my laundry?
There are washing machines in the apartments.
Can I cook in the accommodation?
Yes, there is a kitchen in the apartments.
I am a vegetarian. Can I get vegetarian food?
Yes, this is possible.
What language skills do I need?
For most projects, basic French is expected. Good knowledge of French is required for some projects, while for some others, knowledge of English is sufficient. In the north of Morocco, many people have knowledge of Spanish. The demands on your language skills are given in the info-boxes of the respective projects. You can use language teaching to improve your language skills on site. Helpful in any case, is a basic knowledge of Darija, the Moroccan dialect of Arabic.
 
 
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