Balls of Peace in Morocco
Everywhere you go in Morocco you see little boys playing soccer. Usually their balls are beat up or totally deflated. Often they use tin cans or boxes. A new ball is almost unheard of -- who indeed can afford the $7-10 dollars for such a thing. So, rather than pennies or chocolates or small balls, I got my driver to take me to a walmart equivalent and bought about 8 inexpensive soccer balls. Everywhere we saw kids playing without a proper ball, we stopped, and the driver lined them up, got them to agree on how to share and who would be in charge -- and left behind a beaming group of young men, who knew on that "the American" bought them a soccer ball. I truly urge you to pass this one while you are there, even if you only do one.
Unfortunately I never came up with anything as good for girls. Jump ropes, jacks, and yes they do love pens (they cost a LOT there) and small notebooks are true treasures... but in most places where I was , the girls don't play outdoor sports. Perhaps you can't afford much and this trip is for you, as it was for me, a once in a lifetime... but when you get there, and you see the poverty, you will be glad to have brought a few things to give away. The money I spent was a lot for me, but the smiles of joy were far more payment than I deserved. TF |
Ah, so you have returned to Fodors ! Please write a TR. We gave you a lot of pre-trip advice and would like to hear how your trip turned out. Thanks.
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LOL. That's the problem... so much information and so little time. You might see that I have given advice to several people along the way... But I have finally decided to do a few short ones as the only way it will ever get done...
Regards! |
We've done this and it is a terrific suggestion. We purchased several (8-12) soccer balls on ebay prior to our trip. They arrive deflated and pack fairly well. Then - with the help of a hand pump - we can gift a soccer ball fairly quickly. We even gave them in really remote villages in the High Atlas. Actually for the girls I had done some dollar store shopping with nail polish and lip gloss and bracelets. And - in a few villages we gave the girls groups soccer balls. Don't know how they worked it out later.
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great idea! I'm leaving for Morocco in 2 weeks and will bring some souvenirs for the kids :)
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