What to do in Morocco?

I love to travel. I love to know more about the people, their culture, their FOOD, how a typical day goes in that part of the world, everything.  Last year, I also realized a desire in me which I didn't know was there.  For the past quarter years I've lived, it’s just recently that I realized that I enjoy volunteer work.  I'm not sure if most people who volunteer feel the same but I feel such great joy and accomplishment helping those in need –- help freely given which does not ask for anything in return.  I also believe that by doing these simple acts of kindness, it would give glory and honor to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  I want these people to realize that there is hope for a better future, that God did not forget them; all they need to do is seek Him and surely, if they seek Him with all their heart, they’ll find Him. http://bit.ly/kqEgi1

Early in 2011, I received an email invite to apply for IBM Corporate Service Corps (IBM CSC).  The IBM CSC is a selective leadership program available to IBMers around the world. Getting selected for the CSC is highly competitive and thousands of IBMers have applied for limited openings in the program during previous application cycles. If selected, the CSC matches teams of IBM employees with small and medium enterprises, non–governmental organizations, universities and governmental agencies to work in priority growth markets for one month assignments.  The project involves three months of pre-work, one month in-country and then another two months of post-work. To know more about the program, you may check it out here. 

photo taken from CSC Project Library

Here’s an excerpt from the IBM CSC website

About the Program

The Corporate Service Corps was launched in 2008 to help provide IBMers with high quality leadership development while delivering high quality problem solving for communities and organizations in emerging markets. The program empowers IBM employees as global citizens by sending groups of 10 – 15 individuals from different countries with a range of skills to an emerging market for four week community-based assignments. During the assignment, participants perform community-driven economic development projects working at the intersection of business, technology, and society.

This program increases IBM’s understanding and appreciation of growth markets while creating global leaders who are culturally aware and possess advanced teaching skills. The Corporate Service Corps offers a triple benefit: leadership development for the IBMers, leadership training and development for the communities, and greater knowledge and enhanced reputation in the growth markets for IBM.

Since its launch in 2008, the Corporate Service Corps program has sent over 1,200 participants on over 100 teams to more than 20 countries around the world. The participants come from over 50 countries and have served communities in Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, China, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan , Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, the Philippines, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. The program continues to expand to new locations each year.

“The Corporate Services Corps has served hundreds of communities in more than 24 developing countries since its launch in 2008. Participants from around the world have engaged in projects that intersect business, technology, and society. Participants have worked on projects that range from building a marketing strategy for Danang City, Vietnam to developing new technologies that support a burgeoning tourism market in Tanzania to helping prevent violence and promote digital entrepreneurship in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Whether targeting disaster recovery, infrastructure improvements, economic development, business processes, information and communication technologies, or one of the many other issues vital to healthy businesses and communities, Corporate Service Corps volunteers are joining together to improve the lives of the world’s citizens.

Reaching out to leading growth markets, CSC volunteers have completed economic, social, and environmental sustainability projects in Brazil, Cambodia, Chile, China, Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan , Kenya, Malaysia, Morocco, Nigeria, The Philippines, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam. The program continues to expand to new locations each year.”

 

Year 2012 has just started and God has given me a lot to be thankful for already ---  A LOT of unique experiences at that. I’ve been assigned to a team that will be working in Rabat, Morocco. This is my first time to travel outside of Asia. This is also first time to travel to Africa alone.  This is also my first time to travel on a mission trip.  Basically, this whole trip would instill in me a lot of unique experiences which I know I wouldn’t be able to experience if not for God's blessings.  I thank the Lord for giving me this once in a lifetime opportunity to do 2 things I love: travel and volunteer work --- FOR FREE. :-)

DISCLAIMER:  The postings on this site are my own and don't necessarily represent IBM's positions, strategies or opinions.

#ibmcsc morocco