Aware of this problem, a benefactress by the name of "Oum Keltoum", with the help of the Berrada family, decided to open a social centre to help this destitute population. A population whose young people leave school prematurely, have no training to integrate into a rewarding job, whose women cannot read or write and whose adolescents are victims of drugs or delinquency. "The inhabitants here have lost all confidence in themselves and feel rejected by society," explains a volunteer at the centre.



"We try to give them self-confidence by equipping them with the same means as any Moroccan citizen to live decently," continues the same source. Indeed, in this centre, means are put in place so that they can regain their citizenship. Two classes where volunteer teachers teach women to read and write, a first step towards independence and parity. Courses in mechanics or other formative trades are granted to young people looking for a job to live decently. Sewing and jewellery-making rooms are made available to young women to ensure an income.

In addition, young people benefit from support classes to reintegrate into the school they left

for lack of follow-up and support. Alongside these traditional training courses, cultural training is added since importance is given to creativity and talent.

"Rooms where children can express themselves through cinema, music, dance or even painting since we are aware of the importance of culture and creative expression in children," explains the volunteer. "One of these children will become a great singer or a talented choreographer one day," continues the volunteer, full of optimism because she has faith in these children.

An optimism that does not stop there, since this centre has two objectives: to create a detoxification centre for young people and a free helpline so that people in the neighbourhoods can ask all the questions that concern them.

"We are waiting for funds from patrons to carry out these projects, which we believe in and hold dear," explains the volunteer. The call is therefore launched to allow this "magnificent centre", as Martine Aubry called it, to realise a dream, that of an entire generation in difficulty...

It opened its doors in September 2007 within the Oum Kelthoum Foundation complex. It is equipped with a preschool unit. Any child not in school but of school age receives the necessary help to enrol in school, often after registration with the civil registry. School supplies are provided and school and social monitoring by AMESIP teams is ensured. Some children require school (re)leveling which can take 1 to 3 years within one of the reception centres. They then pass tests and can for the most part be (re)integrated into public schools.

Children who have been re-schooled after one or two years of leveling come to the centres for meals, support classes, to do their homework, learn their lessons, assisted by our educators.

{Question to: Mrs Fikria Berrada, head of the "Oum Keltoum" social centre}

-* "We help the individual to get back on their feet"

-* What does Martine Aubry's visit to the centre represent for you?

-* Mrs Aubry wished to visit this centre and was able to see the work being done there in terms of child aid and training. It is support and recognition of the work we are doing. We are leading a pilot project to fight poverty and upgrade the Moroccan citizen. The location of our complex is not insignificant, we are in Sidi Moumen which is the place of origin of the unfortunate tragedies of 2003. These people are in despair and no longer believe in anything, we want to give them hope again. Through this pilot project, we help the individual to get back on their feet and rehabilitate them on a physical and mental level. Prevention is also healing by giving them all the means to regain their citizenship. Then there are all the professional means they could dream of. We are developing partnerships with large groups in order to complete this project which will allow this project to be cloned in the kingdom, but also internationally.

-* What is the objective you would like to achieve?

-* Our dream is ultimately a Moroccan citizen who is completely dignified, autonomous, proud. The spine straight. When the eyes light up, when the flame is reborn, it means that our objective is almost reached.

-* What are the difficulties you encounter on a daily basis?

-* We need a lot of trainers. We are a bit of a social multinational. We train as much in traditional as in cultural trades, we teach people to dance, sing, become a director one day. We have a theatre that will see the light of day in a few months. We are a bit everywhere, it is perhaps even a risk because by wanting to do too many things, we can weaken ourselves, but we are moving forward slowly but surely to bring as many chances as possible to these people who live in precariousness to realise their dream.