Intercultural exchange in Morocco

Oued el Kanar valley is in the Moroccan High Atlas Mountains. It is considered a highly preserved valley due to its nature and the traditional way of living of the local people. The project was established by members of the local community with the aim to raise environmental awareness. Its major focus is on mitigation of the effects of climate change and fostering intercultural education among the local community. The project is based in Ouad Kanar village in the north of Morocco, close to Chefchaouane and Tetouan. It is situated 90 km from Chefchaouane city, in an area that is famed for its cultural diversity. The volunteers will be hosted in a hostel and will be able to experience the cultural diversity and learn to live with and interact with members of the host community in an atmosphere of cooperation and solidarity. This project has hosted previously both local and international volunteers and it has great potential for replicating its activities in equally challenging circumstances in other regions of Morocco.

Location: The El Kanar River, which has its headwaters in the western part of the Rif Mountain range, in the heart of the Talassemtane National Park, joins the Bouhya shortly before it flows into the Mediterranean, forming the vast Tighissasse delta. From its various sources, it crosses a rugged terrain made up of dolomites and limestone, reaching spectacular proportions before emerging onto the shale terrain in the canyon of El Kanar, patiently carved out by the flow of its cold waters over thousands of years. It is impressive for the visitor to contemplate the immense limestone mass overlooking the wide alluvial valley and the wild river flowing through the impressive gorge into the wide wadi surrounded by gentle cultivated hills and small villages scattered all around.

The valley of El Kanar summarizes, as very few in the Mediterranean area, the constructive characteristics, the farming techniques and the use of water typical of the rural environment in which we find ourselves. Since ancient times, man has occupied this territory and transformed it for agricultural and livestock use. In former times, the valley was covered by Mediterranean woodland: holm oaks, gall oaks, kermes oaks... and a predominantly mastic undergrowth, which is still harvested to stoke the oven. Despite the rational use of the land, it should be noted that on some steep slopes, the loss of vegetation in favor of mono-culture encourages erosion of these very thin soils.

Dates: August 15 - August 28, 2023

Find out more about this and other volunteer opportunities in Morocco at: http://cadip.org/volunteer-in-morocco