22 August 2006
Dormitories Help Rural Moroccan Girls Get Access to Education
Since she had no relatives living near the middle and secondary schools closest to her home, Souad was afraid she would be unable to finish her education. The schools were located dozens of miles from where she lived, and she had no way to get to school every day. In addition, her family could barely afford the school fees she would have to pay.
When Souad learned about a boarding program in Tighassaline in central Morocco, she jumped at the chance to continue learning. With support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the local Rural Girls Scholarship Committee operates a dormitory for academically gifted middle school girls who cannot afford to continue studying. The girls' education program also provides scholarships for boarding, lodging and academic support, and a small grant to cover books and fees. Souad applied, was accepted, and was able not only to complete middle school but also to continue on to secondary school.
After Souad finished middle school, the organization’s director invited her to continue living in the dormitory so that she could continue her education. In return, he asked her to tutor the younger girls in the school and help them with their homework. Souad was grateful -- her family would never have been able to afford other boarding alternatives.
"I want you to be proud of me," she said. "And I want to do something for girls and women later on."
In July 2005, Tighassaline proudly graduated its first group of scholarship students who completed three years of middle school. With tears in her eyes, Souad thanked USAID and its partners for having given her the opportunity to complete her secondary education.
"I feel that I have been given a wonderful opportunity and I know that opportunities in life don't come twice.”
USAID’s assistance is helping to increase the number of girls benefiting from scholarships, fill the dorm to capacity and help more girls like Souad finish their schooling.
"I know that education has changed my life. My interests are different from those of my sisters and I have learned to make my own decisions and judgments," Souad said.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
