There are two organisations in Tangier/Morocco where we can offer volunteering options with small children.

At the Baby Nursery ("La Crèche de Tanger") there are 40 children between 0 and 11 years who are waiting to be adopted. 4 of them are autistic children, 2 are suffering from hydrocephalus and a few more have certain handicaps. Most of the children have been living at the Nursery since their birth. In most cases the reason is that they are children of unmarried mothers which is not acceptable in Moroccan society. Just a few of the children have joined La Crèche at a later moment because of social reasons.

There are sufficient families who want to adopt a child, however there are often long delays to deal with all the legal issues. Boys generally stay for a longer time at the centre as girls are more popular for adoptions. Handicapped children usually don't find anyone to adopt them. Most families who adopt the children are from Morocco or Spain. According to Moroccan law all adoptive parents have to be of Muslim religion.

The task for volunteers will be to give love and affection to the children; to bottle-feed and diaper the babies, to teach simple topics and to play and paint with the children. 

The daily routine is usually as follows: The kids get up at 5 in the morning, they will then take a shower and get dressed. After breakfast, they will leave the centre to go to school at 7:30. The autistic children will be picked up by a special bus. The smaller children will stay at the centre and the volunteers will play with them. In the summertime (starting 15th of May) there will be daily swimming at the centre's swimming pool.

After swimming they will take another shower and will then have lunch. At around 2:40 p.m. they will do siesta until around 5 p.m. At around 3 p.m. the older kids return from school. They will then do their homework and the younger children will play again. For the 24 hours supervision of the autistic children, volunteers can sleep on a bench in the centre.

It is possible to stay for short durations of time (minimum 1 week), as the kids have to get accustomed that one day they will have to leave the centre and their caregivers.

There are 20 single mothers with babies and toddlers of 0 to 2 years staying at the Kindergarten and residential home for single mothers of the Gracious Sisters of Calcutta in the old city centre of Tangier. 

In several rooms, the kids can play with their mothers and the nuns. Every day around 10 further single mothers who don't live at the centre are bringing their children. Additionally, every Wednesday, the centre is open to street children who will be washed and play some games.

Volunteers will spend time with the children, mothers and street children.

Info box:

Location: Tangier, Morocco

Duration: Minimum 4 weeks*

Special qualifications needed: no

Costs: none, the trouble-free package is optional

Accommodation: Not included

Meals: Not included

Included: Placement in the project; if you opt for the trouble-free package the whole range of services which is part of the trouble-free package is included

Not included: Travel to Morocco, health insurance

Book this placement now! 

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*You can also book this activity as a 1-3 weeks  "Voluntourism Hopper"!