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Sports Development Volunteer Project in Morocco

Sports Development Volunteer Project in Morocco

Want to kick off a new adventure as a Sports Development volunteer in Morocco? International Volunteer HQ’s Sports Development project is a great opportunity for volunteers to assist with sport in schools and community centres in Morocco. Volunteers gain teaching and coaching experience while sharing their love and knowledge of sport with students. In addition to fostering teamwork and building social skills, physical activity helps to keep young Moroccans involved in socially positive activities that help them grow and develop.

Highlights:
  • Programs start every first and third Monday of the month
  • Affordable fees from AU$633 for 1 week
  • Includes accommodation, meals, airport pick up, orientation and 24/7 support
  • Teach and play a range of local sports and introduce your own from home

  • Explore Morocco’s amazing deserts and dunes

  • Experience daily life in Morocco by staying with a local family

Key information

Improve wellbeing through physical activity
Based in schools and community centres
Homestay accommodation
Volunteers aged 18+ and families
Fully hosted experience from AU$633 for 1 week
Durations from 1 - 24 weeks
French and Arabic lessons available
Up to 5 hours volunteering a day

This program is ideal for:

Active, energetic volunteers who are passionate about sports and enjoy working with young people.
Who is this program suited to?

What to expect and how you'll make an impact

Sport and physical activity are growing more popular in Moroccan culture as locals have begun to see the value of personal and physical development. As well as contributing to health and wellbeing, sport gives people teamwork and social skills and helps to prevent delinquency among young Moroccans in developing communities.

As a Sports Development volunteer you will help in schools and community centres contributing to the growth of sport in Morocco through education and coaching. You’ll mostly be volunteering with school-aged students, in charge of a small group, playing and coaching different sports. Volunteer duties can vary but often involve helping with sports like:

  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Volleyball
  • Handball
  • Athletics

Volunteers are also encouraged to introduce new sports and games from home. If you have a preference to teach a particular sport please note this on your application​ when you apply​.

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-Being

Contributes to United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal #3: Good Health and Well-Being

Good mental and physical health is key to sustainable development and building healthy and happy communities. Now more than ever, we must increase access to free healthcare and health education across the globe to achieve an acceptable standard of living and wellbeing for all.

Why do Sports Development volunteering in Morocco with IVHQ?

As a sports volunteer in Morocco you’ll be adding value to the local community, while also developing personally and professionally by:

  • Improving access to sports for young people
  • Helping students develop life skills in a safe place
  • Developing your communication skills
  • Gaining teaching experience
  • Immersing yourself in Moroccan culture
  • Discovering Morocco’s rich history

Volunteer requirements

  • Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to participate in this program and may be asked to provide additional documentation to the local team
  • All volunteers aged 13+ are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ prior to departure. Those aged 13-17, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead
  • All volunteers are required to have adequate volunteer travel insurance
  • All volunteers must speak fluent English.
  • It is not a prerequisite for volunteers to speak Arabic or French, however volunteer work can sometimes be restricted for those with limited Arabic and/or French language skills, and you should expect a significant language barrier as few people speak English.
Are you eligible to volunteer?

Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.

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What recent volunteers said about their IVHQ experience

CS
Cyrus Suri
16 Jan 2024

I feel as though I gained knowledge around the life of others and I would not be hesitant about this! Only positive impacts were made both on me and the people I was working with!

...
SS
Simone Suri
16 Jan 2024

The program where we volunteered was amazing. They are really doing the best they can to improve lives. Clearly IVHQ has done their research and is very well versed in arranging this type of volunteering while still allowing autonomy!

...
BH
Ben Hines
28 Dec 2023

Go for it. Life is short. Take a chance and impact another community all while glimpsing another part of the world!

...
NP
Natalie Pheffer
25 Oct 2023

I gained a lot from this experience. I am extremely grateful that I was able to travel and meet all of these amazing people. I gained a lot of personal insight, I surprised myself. My advice would be to ask a lot of questions and be present.

...
TW
Thomas Walters
13 Oct 2023

Just do it! It changed my life significantly. It ignited a flame in me for travel and volunteering that I did not know I had. Since I got back from this trip, I have already applied to two more and enrolled in one of them!!

...
AP
Alice Potashnyk
31 Aug 2023

It was a great experience, it really immerses you in the culture of traditional family and way of life. Be prepared if you don’t speak French or Arabic to go with the flow as communicating it hard. The Moroccan people are so friendly, will always make you feel safe and appreciate you!

...

To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.

Academic course credit through International Volunteer HQ and Intern Abroad HQ.

Academic course credit

Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!

Learn about course credit
Volunteer Abroad in Morocco with IVHQ

Location

Rabat is a bustling, beautiful place and the capital city of Morocco. With a vibrant mixture of African, Berber and European cultures, it is a fascinating place to visit. It’s the home of Morocco’s king and his court, a huge number of mosques and monuments, an old Medina listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site and a wide range of other interesting things to see and do.

While Morocco has made progress towards improving quality of life for its citizens, there is still a huge socioeconomic gap between those with wealth and those without, and a big difference in access to basic necessities in rural and urban areas. Employment can be especially difficult to come by. Volunteers can help address the challenges of inequality and poverty by assisting with a range of projects that aim to continue to develop society and equality in Morocco. Volunteer projects are located in Rabat, Casablanca, Sale, and Mehdia.​​

Arrival and orientation

The program orientation begins the first and third Monday of each month, and volunteers need to arrive in Rabat on the Sunday before orientation. After you have registered for the program, please book your flights to arrive at Rabat International Airport (RBA). Your airport pick-up is included in your Program Fee.

When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team and transported to the volunteer accommodation in Rabat, Casablanca or Sale (location will depend on proximity to your specific placement). Your accommodation is covered by your Program Fee and includes the night before your program orientation.

If you are travelling in Morocco prior to your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up at the Rabat Ville Train Station on the day before your program orientation.

Orientation is hosted by our Moroccan team at the volunteer base in Rabat. Orientation begins on the morning of your chosen start date. Orientation covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in Morocco – an introduction to Morocco, Moroccan customs, rules and expectations, language lessons, safety, travel opportunities in Morocco, and an introduction to your project and placement. The orientation will also give you a chance to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socialising.

Volunteer schedule example

First Day

On your first day of volunteering, you will be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the placement staff you will be working with.

Weekdays

Work and break times are dependent on each project and placement. Volunteers taking Arabic or French language lessons spend half the day volunteering and the other half of the day taking language lessons. A typical volunteer day would be as follows

8:00 AM Breakfast at your homestay.
9:00 - 10:00 AM Volunteers leave home and travel to their placements to begin work.
2:00 - 5:00 PM Work at the placement usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel home, prepare for the next day or do some shopping and sightseeing.
8:00 PM Dinner at the homestay.

Weekends

During the weekends, volunteers have spare time and usually relax or take the opportunity to explore other parts of Rabat and Morocco. In Rabat, you can visit the ancient city ruins of Chellah, learn to surf, treat your senses to the charms of the market stalls in the old Medina, see any of the city’s large number of sacred and religious sites, mosques and monuments, take a traditional steam bath, wander the pretty blue and white streets of the Kasbah des Oudaias, or take in a beautiful garden or art gallery.

Long weekends can be taken to travel further afield to destinations, such as Marrakech, Merzouga, Tinghir, Fes, Meknes, Volubilis, Tangier, and Gibraltar, Andalusia and Portugal in southern Europe.

Accommodation and WiFi

Volunteers are accommodated in a homestay with a local family. It is exciting to stay with a family, as this is an opportunity to learn the Moroccan way of life, meet local people, eat local food, speak the local language (Darija: the Moroccan Arabic dialect) and engage in local customs and traditions. These families receive money from your program fee for support, food and board.

Living is basic, yet still comfortable, and most homestays have electricity and running water. You can expect to share a room with other volunteers, however in some homestays volunteers have their own rooms. It is important to note that Moroccan homes have a shared living environment in which Sdaders - Moroccan couches - are used for sitting and dining during the day and as beds at night.

Bedding is provided, but it is recommended you bring your own towel and toiletries, as well as a sleeping bag if you wish to travel on the weekends.

WiFi is available in the majority of the homestays in Morocco. To keep connected, you can also purchase a local SIM card with data for an unlocked mobile phone.

Meals

Volunteers in Morocco are served breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.

Influenced by African, Arab, Moorish and Berber cuisines, Moroccan cooking blends Mediterranean fruits and vegetables with spices. A Moroccan meal often begins with a series of hot and cold salads, followed by a Moroccan stew called tagine, and bread. Lamb and chicken dishes are common, as is couscous topped with meat and vegetables.

The consumption of pork and alcohol are prohibited, as per Muslim dietary restrictions. Drinking mint tea is a daily tradition and bread is eaten with nearly every meal.

Bottled water is readily available in Morocco and volunteers should budget approximately US$5 (approximately AU$8) per week for 2 liters a day. If you have any special dietary requirements, please include these in your application.

Pricing

  • USD
Duration
Program Fee
Due 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
  • USD
1 week AU$632 Equivalent to AU$90/day
2 weeks AU$1129 Equivalent to AU$81/day
3 weeks AU$1474 Equivalent to AU$70/day
4 weeks AU$1818 Equivalent to AU$65/day
5 weeks AU$2163 Equivalent to AU$62/day
6 weeks AU$2507 Equivalent to AU$60/day
8 weeks AU$3196 Equivalent to AU$57/day
10 weeks AU$3709 Equivalent to AU$53/day
12 weeks AU$4222 Equivalent to AU$50/day
16 weeks AU$5223 Equivalent to AU$47/day
20 weeks AU$6217 Equivalent to AU$44/day
24 weeks AU$7210 Equivalent to AU$43/day
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • 24/7 in-country support
  • In-country program orientation
  • Pre-departure support from your Program Manager
  • Airport pick-up
  • Personalised preparation tools, guides and check lists
  • Access to IVHQ’s preferred insurance and flights partners
  • Discounts on language lessons
  • Certificate of International Volunteer Service

Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.

  • All programs attract a Registration Fee of US$329 (approximately AU$528) in addition to the Program Fee. This covers all pre-departure support services. IVHQ fees are priced in USD but you may elect to pay in AUD.
  • A 5% international banking fee is added at point of payment.
  • Additional things to budget for include: Visa, flights, travel insurance (mandatory), vaccinations, criminal background check, public transport to and from your placement each day and return to the airport when your program finishes.
  • Recommended spending money: Volunteers in Morocco generally find US$40 to be sufficient for weekly expenses.

Free-time experiences & tours in Morocco

Take your volunteer experience to the next level with IVHQ's affordable activity and tour add-ons in Morocco! Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ Morocco program.

Arabic Language Lessons
Arabic Language Lessons

Improve your Arabic language skills while volunteering in Morocco.

From AU$425
French Language Lessons
French Language Lessons

Improve your French language skills while volunteering in Morocco.

From AU$425
Arabic Language Lessons
Arabic Language Lessons

Improve your Arabic language skills while volunteering in Morocco.

From AU$425
French Language Lessons
French Language Lessons

Improve your French language skills while volunteering in Morocco.

From AU$425

Affordable Arabic & French Language Lessons

Our local team in Morocco offer Arabic and French lessons to volunteers, which can be organised and paid for in advance through IVHQ. Lessons are tailored to each volunteer’s current level of Arabic or French and will be for 2 hours per day Monday through Friday. Past volunteers feel that taking these lessons can help you immensely with your day to day volunteer work and communicating with local people.

  • 1 week of lessons (10 hours) – US$265 (approximately AU$425)
  • 2 weeks of lessons (20 hours) – US$535 (approximately AU$858)
  • 3 weeks of lessons (30 hours) – US$800 (approximately AU$1284)
  • 4 weeks of lessons (40 hours) – US$1065 (approximately AU$1709)

Please make a note in your application or contact your IVHQ Program Manager after you have registered for the program if you would like to add language lessons to your Morocco volunteer experience.

Check what's required to visit Morocco

Safety and support with IVHQ

Safety and support

IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.

  • All volunteers encouraged to complete our interactive pre-departure training.
  • All local teams trained on best practice volunteer management & First Aid.
  • All IVHQ programs are required to adhere to IVHQ's Risk Management Policy.
  • All volunteers have access to 24/7 in-country support from our local team.
Learn more about IVHQ's safety

Essential country information

Capital Rabat
Population 36.47 million
Languages Arabic and Berber
Currency Moroccan Dirham (MAD)
Time zone UTC±00:00

Weather and climate

Morocco has a Mediterranean climate that is generally hot and dry for most of the year, with cooler, yet still mild, temperatures and rainfall during the winter months between November and March. Morocco has widely varying terrain and the climate varies greatly throughout the country. Temperatures can be incredibly high in the southern and south eastern desert areas whereas, the temperature drops considerably in the higher lying mountainous areas, even dropping to freezing point at night. In Rabat, temperatures reach an average high of 27°C (80.6°F) in the summer months and an average high of 17°C (62.6°F) in the winter months. Temperatures can drop to an average of 7°C (44.6°F) in the winter and it is generally always cold in the evenings throughout the year.

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How to get started

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