A message from Jamil:
Greetings family/friends/colleagues,
This is a solicitation message for a worthwhile cause, so please continue reading.
As most of you are aware, DeDe, the boys, and I have lived in Morocco for approximately 1 year where I am serving as an Olmsted Scholar. This has been a tremendous opportunity, and we are excited to spend another year deepening our experience. During our time in Morocco, we have tried to maximize our time by exploring multiple facets of society: daily life, cultural events, travel, academic opportunities, and adventure among other important aspects. A large part of our success in Morocco has hinged upon the ability to make friends and depend upon our generous hosts. In this regard, we have been blessed. Of course, this is not unique to Olmsted Scholars in Morocco, but exchange students everywhere. When a group of fellow Olmsted Scholars and I decided to run the Marathon des Cedres (21-24 June 2012), we naturally decided that we wanted to try to give something back to our host country by supporting a local charity.
Running the Marathon des Cedres fulfills many purposes. This being no ordinary marathon, one of the purposes is simply for the challenge. It is a 56 mile (90KM), 4-day, stage race through the Atlas Mountains. The trails, summer heat, and high altitude should make for a difficult run. As a student of Morocco, another purpose for this run is to get an up close look at the Middle Atlas's beautiful landscape and make new Moroccan friends in the process. Between each stage of the event, runners camp out and share meals in Amizagh (Berber) villages, which should be an experience in itself. Yet another purpose for partaking in this event is to spend time and swap stories with fellow Olmsted Scholars. As of now, 4 Olmsted scholars serving in Morocco and 4 additional Olmsted Scholars/spouses from various other countries will be running the event next month. We have at least one runner from each of the 4 services in our group (Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force). Finally, running in this race presents the opportunity to raise money for charity.
The majority of Americans and expatriates in Morocco live at an exceptional level compared to the average Moroccan citizen. Although there are many extraordinary sites to see and places to visit, Morocco remains a developing country with the largest disparity amongst rich and poor in the Arab world. In an effort to do good, we have chosen to raise money for the High Atlas Foundation. My fellow runners and I researched various organizations, and HAF seemed especially fitting. HAF is a grassroots organization that works on much needed developmental projects in rural Morocco. It was founded in 2000 by former Peace Corps volunteers, and it continues to work in collaboration with governmental and nongovernmental organizations. HAF is a U.S. 501(c)(3) organization and a Moroccan association, and since 2011 has Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. We have been in contact with the leadership at HAF and are confident in this organization.
If you have made it this far, I thank you for reading. If you would like to make a donation on my behalf, please click on the Razoo link below. The U.S. dollar goes a long way in rural Morocco, and your generosity will be much appreciated. All proceeds go to HAF, as I will be paying for registration, transportation, and any other miscellaneous fees. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Jamil
P.S. Visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sweatincedars
No comments:
Post a Comment