The Forest Service, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and High Atlas Foundation recently celebrated the first-ever Youth Conservation Corps (YCC) graduation in Morocco. Fifteen young women, ages 18 – 25, completed a six-month residential course focused on civic engagement values, environmental stewardship skills, and the attainment of technical knowledge to improve their livelihoods and those of their communities. The program started in September 2023 in Benslimane, Morocco, and concluded with a job fair in May 2024.
The YCC Morocco program is modeled closely after the celebrated Youth Conservation Corps program in the United States.
“My experience with the Youth Conservation Corps has been nothing short of transformative. From a place of uncertainty, I have emerged with clarity of purpose and a deep-rooted commitment to preserving our planet,”
said YCC participant Karima Taouil.
The YCC Morocco participants studied agricultural practices and learned from national experts and local farmers on topics ranging from composting to managing and maintaining honeybees. They managed tree nurseries, learned how to select quality seeds, and perfected their outplanting techniques. Their field trips and training workshops exposed them to jobs within the government and with private institutions.
They also worked on their leadership skills and honed their teamwork capabilities through relationship-building workshops and personal and professional development courses. The program fostered a supportive environment that encouraged the pursuit of self-identified projects and the attainment of technical skills that would help them secure jobs in the agricultural, forestry and environmental/conservation sectors.
“From teamwork and networking to hands-on experiences with nature and wildlife, the program has left an indelible mark on my personal and professional growth,”
said Dounia Zeroual.
The first YCC cohort was funded by USAID Foreign Operations Funds. The next iteration of the program, which will emphasize increasing gender equality, employment opportunities, and climate change resilience, will be jointly funded by USAID and the Department of State Bureau of Oceans and International Environment and Scientific Affairs through the new Gender Equity and Equality Action Fund. High Atlas Foundation, which has emphasized gender equity and equality in agriculture and agroforesty since its founding, will continue to take the lead in programming. The next cohort is expected to arrive in September of 2024.