Leadership & Service in Youth Development
Why Choose This Program?
Explore
Have fun discovering one of Africa's most vibrant coastal cities.
Network
Meet new friends and NGO leaders. Build your own community.
Get Inspired
Gain hands-on leadership skills through community outreach. Come home ready to take action.
The Destination
Relax in a café with a cup of mint tea or stroll through the Kasbah in this quiet seaside city.
Mohammedia is a small port city set between Casablanca and Rabat on the Mediterranean coast. A working fishing port, it offers a more authentic portrait of local life than its more touristy neighbors. The east side of the city is famous for its swimming beaches, whereas other city beaches are rough and rocky. Many find it a welcome respite when looking to escape the busy life of nearby cities.
Founded a thousand years ago under the Almoravid dynasty, then visited in the 14th and 15th century by merchant ships from Europe, Mohammedia embodies a rich mix of cultural influences. This is best reflected in its cuisine: A mix of North African Amazigh, Arab, and Mediterranean traditions, fused with European and West influences.
Souks (markets) are a major feature of Moroccan life, and many are overflowing with seasonal fruits. Along with various kinds of dates, you’ll find grapes, figs, melons, peaches and the local prickly pear (cactus fruit). Bread is a huge part of the Moroccan diet and you’ll find freshly baked bread (eaten with butter, olive oil and jam) at bakeries and shops around town. Street food includes kebabs or spicy merguez sausages, roasted chickpeas and peanuts, and sfenj (delicious doughnut-shaped fritters).
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Mohammedia.
Sample Itinerary
Top Rated Activities
Overnight Trip to Marrakech
The medina of Marrakech hums with life as you weave through narrow alleyways, passing vibrant market stalls and colorful street performers. You share a traditional Moroccan meal with your friends on a terrace overlooking Jemaa El Fna, where snake charmers, storytellers, and musicians bring the square to life under the setting sun. The energy of this UNESCO World Heritage site is unforgettable—a feast for the senses.
The next morning, you hike through the breathtaking Atlas Mountains, where red peaks give way to lush valleys and winding rivers. Arriving in an Amazigh village that is untouched by tourism, you volunteer alongside local youth, engaging in games with children and learning from the community’s deep-rooted traditions. This experience emphasizes ethical volunteering and the process of decentering Western values in order to approach service with humility, respect, and a focus on the needs of the local community.
The adventure concludes with a camel ride in the Agafay Desert, where the vast landscape stretches endlessly before you. Sharing these experiences with your peers creates deep bonds and lasting memories. You return to Rabat with a broader perspective on culture, service, and your role in fostering meaningful global connections.
Service with a Local Community Development NGO
Navigating a new culture begins with listening. On your first day volunteering at a local elementary school, you and your fellow Global Navigators sit down with teachers and parents to hear about their needs and hopes for their community. Inspired by their voices, you begin your week of service, fostering deep connections with both your peers and the local students.
You’re not just there to teach—whether it’s English or STEM through scavenger hunts and LEGO building challenges—but also to learn: how to tend the plants in the school garden, play traditional games, and speak Darija (Moroccan Arabic). The days are filled with collaboration, laughter, and meaningful work. Together, you paint classrooms, plant gardens, and share meals, deepening friendships with each passing moment. Evening service seminars help you reflect on ethical volunteering, decentering Western perspectives, and the privilege of learning from a vibrant community.
This experience stays with you long after your time in Morocco. It may inspire volunteer work in your own community, become the centerpiece of a standout college admission essay, and even ignite a lifelong passion for international service.
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Eligibility
- Participants must be 14 years old and above.
- No previous language experience required.
- Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.
- For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our Scholarship page.
For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.
Dates & Fees
Application Fee
$25
Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. More details about tuition inclusions can be found here.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Summer Session I 2025 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $4,950 | |
| Program Summer Session II 2025 3 weeks | Start Date | End Date | Costs $4,950 |
Ready to change your life?
Our Staff
Madiha Chafiq
Center Director
Madiha received her master’s degree in international education and development from George Washington University and her bachelor’s degree in international relations from Boston University.
Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.
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