Get Involved: Morocco Volunteer

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 17 reviews.

Peter Florence

GET INVOLVED: MOROCCO VOLUNTEER

Written October 2011
Having been on the Morocco volunteer holidays right from the start this was probably the best. A really great group of people who worked hard as a team to achieve a great deal while still having a lot of fun and laughter.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
So many! It is always a thrill to return to Tjhza and to be greeted by old friends there. To finally see the hammam in advanced course of construction and to know the real difference it will make to the local community. To work alongside the locals digging foundations - never could I have imagined I would so enjoy a day pushing a wheelbarrow! To see the joy on the children's faces as they received items we had taken. To share in the work at the second project location near Essaouira and see the school literally transformed before our eyes. Above all to see the wonderful spirit of the local people who make the very best of what they have and help me put my own life into perspective.
What did you think of your group leader?
This was my 12th trip with Andy - as always he did a great job and it is so evident he believes in the project with a passion.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Get involved! The more you put in the more you get out. Be prepared to get dirty and you will find it rewarding. You don't need special skills to help make a real difference. Try to communicate with the locals as much as possible and genuine friendships will be formed.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
For the first time we stayed with Mohammed and Carolyn in their beautiful new kasbah. They not only made us very welcome but provided excellent meals. We also stayed at the Riad Bledna again where, once more, the standard of hospitality and food was exceptional. The week flew by but I returned home uplifted in the knowledge that we really had made a difference. My thanks to everyone in the group as each played an important part in what was a wonderful week. I hope to see as many of you as possible on future visits to Morocco.
rebecca williams

MOROCCO VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Written September 2011
This was my first experience of Morocco and of an Exodus Volunteer experience. Having read the detailed trip notes and the information on the Baraka Community Partnerships website, I knew it was the trip for me.....and I wasn't disappointed! Words that come to mind when I think of the trip: the joy that the little things in life can give us (eg sunshine, a smile, laughter, a shower, teamwork..); the beauty of Morocco, its people and nature; the fun of adventure; the wonder of the human spirit and the joy of working together in partnership. Everyone in our group returned refreshed and renewed....and in many cases transformed by the experience.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
So many memorable moments.....swinging a pick-axe at the Hammam in Tizjha; laughing with the locals as we worked together; standing under a waterfall; riding down the hillside on a mule; gazing up at a star-filled sky; seeing the smiles on the childrens' faces as they received new clothes, shoes, toys, toothbrushes; scraping old paint off the tired school building near Essaouria while a little local boy stood next to me with his sandpaper; seeing the transformation in the school building after all our efforts; being a part of a lovely group of people and sharing experiences with them...
What did you think of your group leader?
Andy was a wonderful group leader. His passion for Morocco and its people and his wealth of experience and knowledge was an inspiration. His fluency in French meant he could communicate with many Moroccans with apparent ease. His many years of experience with Exodus and more recently his work with Baraka has endeared him to many Moroccans who were visibly grateful for all he has done....and it was lovely to be a part of his vision. He had planned the trip carefully and we felt looked after. Although he was our leader he felt one of our group and was a lot of fun.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Try to take out as much as you can for the villagers....Andy will advise you on what is needed; Keep well protected from the sun; Dextrose tablets and rehydration sachets can come in handy for a dodgy tummy!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I am likely to write far too much if I say anymore! If you love adventure, people and new experiences, you will love this trip.
Peter Florence

MOROCCO VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Written May 2011
The Morocco Volunteer Trip has, since it began, become an annual event for me and each year I get to know the people of Tijhza a little better and to feel closer to their community
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Completing the decorating in the house of an elderly couple and realising from their response that we had made a difference. It is quite moving to visit homes with no running water or toilet facilities and which are unheated and have very few of the comforts we take for granted. Nevertheless there is a warmth among their community which is rare in our society.
What did you think of your group leader?
I first met Andy when he was leading a trip to Morocco in 2000 since when I have done a further ten trips with him. He has a genuine affection for Morocco and is committed to doing what he can to improving the lives of the poorer people of Tijhza
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Morocco is a great country - cities, mountains, desert and sea. The volunteer trips give you the opportunity to sample just some of what it has to offer as well as making a real contribution to a worthwhile project
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Morocco is addictive! Having now completed eight Exodus trips there I seem to enjoy each more than before as I acquire a deeper understanding and appreciation of this land and its culture
Beverley Phillips

MOROCCO VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Written May 2011
This was my 4th Volunteer to Morocco and Tijhza and it won't be the last! If you've ever wondered about taking a volunteer trip then this is a great project to join. You don't need to have any particular skills just enthusiasm.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
It's hard to choose! The speed at which the ground clearing took place and the obvious enthusiasm of the villagers over the project is an obvious one.
Popping in to see the new preschool class and being amazed how 29 four year olds can go so quickly from tearing around the playground to sitting quietly and listening to their teacher.
But for me the stand out moments on the trip were the times spent visiting families to pass on donations of clothing. The children are a little shy when being measured for size, but are absolutely delighted when receiving a pair of shoes or warm clothing (they get snow in winter), and there are smiles and hugs all round.

What did you think of your group leader?
Andy is passionate about this project which is very infectious. He knows Morocco really well and every where you go someone he knows appears out of no-where, delighted to see him. With that kind of knowledge you can't help but feel looked after.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Book it!
Packing advice - you really don't need to take much for yourself, pack as much as you can for the village as you'll wish you managed to fit more in. If it's space and not weight that's a problem use compression sacks.
Don't expect anything to run on British schedules, Moroccan time is totally different. They have a phrase in French which roughly translated means that whilst we need to know the time to the minute, they prefer to know is it morning, afternoone, evening or night.
Delight in any opportunity to meet the villagers, there are no rules to how many cups of mint tea you can drink in a day. Enjoy the hilarity of using made upsign language to communicate especially when painting - pretty much anything you try and ask for they will understand as tea!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This trip is one of the highlights of my year, I start to get very excited from around March onwards, but have already started collecting now donations to take next year. For some one visit is enough to start a passion for volunteering trip in different directions, for me it's almost an addiction, I'm not sure what I'd do if I wasn't going to Tijhza in spring!
Richard Thornton

MOROCCO VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Written May 2011
The trip was a great showcase for Morocco. From the Atlas mountains to the desert and back to Marrakesh via the Todra Gorge the range of scenery is simply stunning. As ever the time spent volunteering in the village was both busy and rewarding.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Two from me. Being in and around the village is always a great experience. It was interesting to sit in on a Village Association meeting and be rewarded the following morning by a host of villagers turning up (with mint tea and bread) to help clear the site for the Hammam. A fine days graft, involving some canny local 'diy' techniques!
Secondly, watching the sun set over the Erg Chebbi dunes. Sadly not as tranquil as it once was with off road vehicles beginning to make their presence felt.
Oh yes and perhaps a third, relaxing at the Riad Bledna!
What did you think of your group leader?
Andy has travelled in Morocco for many years and has built up a long list of local contacts. This generally means you are assured of a warm welcome in most places and I think get more of a feel for the local community. Andy is also passionate about the project and this comes across in the effort and enthusiasm he puts into each volunteer trip.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you are looking to visit a great country and do something slightly different why not try the Tighza volunteer trip? Enthusiasm is the only pre-requiste and your involvement will be warmly appreciated by the village. Check out the Exodus responsible travel pages for more information on how you can get involved or donate to the project. If you happen to visit Tighza on another trip you can still donate old clothes, pencils, pens etc., just track down Carolyn and Mohammed at their Kasbah.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thanks to everyone it was a great trip and we achieved loads during our time in the village!
John Clarke

MOROCCO VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Written May 2011
An excellent holiday. We enjoyed seeing different parts of the country and the volunteering element was very rewarding for us.Andy was a great tour leader and the group got on very well with each other. Some of the group had been to Morocco with Andy before and they made the newcomers feel welcome. We're having a reunion at the end of August.We arrived the day after the bomb in Morocco, so there was a bit of apprehension at first, but quickly dispersed once we got going. The people were very friendly and we felt almost that an extra effort was being made to make tourists feel welcome.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The two days of volunteering, which we (a) enjoyed and (b) was very satisfying. The local people really welcomed the work we were doing and very appreciative of our efforts. We hope that the work we did will inspire the local people to carry on and get the project complete.
Otherwise, the time spent at the edge of the Sahara and walking on the dunes. Wonderful atmosphere and sunsets
What did you think of your group leader?
Excellent. A good mix of knowledge, organisation and familiarity.
Created a great spirit in the group.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Go with an open mind and lots of old clothes - for working in and passing on to local people.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Our only criticism would be that the minibus was cramped and not the best quality, particularly for a trip which involved quite a lot of road travel. 17 in a 17-seater on a 4-hour drive is a snug fit by any standards. Having said that the craic on the back seat was fantastic!
Peter Florence

ATLAS PANORAMA - Volunteer Trip

Written April 2010
The Tijhza volunteer trip has become an annual event for me as I have been each year since they started. For me they serve two purposes - to give something, however modest, to the villagers who live a comparitively simple way of life and to help put my own life into perspective when I see that they appear happier than many of us with relatively unlimited material possessions.
Read full review
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
There were several - seeing old friends in the village again, completing the painting at the house of a village family and interaction with the children at the school. Oh, and my triple save in the customary football match against the local teachers!
What did you think of your group leader?
I first met Andy in Morocco ten years ago and this was my 7th trip to that country with him (as well as four others in Spain). He has a genuine love for Morocco which has proved infectious and cares passionately about the local people.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Be prepared to muck in and get mucky. The four days in the village are not spent in luxury but you may well find, like me, that you are drawn back by the wonderful people there. I am already thinking about 'next time'!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This trip stayed at Riad Bledna in Marrakesh which was the first time an Exodus group has been there. It was brilliant - away from the noise of the city, wonderful facilities, excellent food and great hospitality. I hope all Exodus trips stay there in future so as to sample a true Morocco experience.