Guidance Notes for Applicants
Changing Lives Programme - Community Development
31st March - 11th of April & May 25th-June 6th 2016
Our Mission
Changing Lives Programme is a visionary initiative set up and funded by Dr.Majid AlSadi a
former Coventry student. It provides students with an opportunity to bridge the divide and
“gaps” in understanding and awareness that exists between Eastern and Western cultures,
faiths and customs. It brings our youth together, face-to-face, empowering them to make
real human connections, to challenge their perceptions and attitudes and find common
ground through volunteering activities.
The programme not only gives the students something to add to their CV, but it is creating
Coventry students who have a competitive edge because they will have greater awareness
and understanding of what it means to live in and be part of the global community and the
skills needed to navigate the ethical, social and environmental issues of our day.
An Overview of the Programme
The ancient old city of Sefrou at the foothills of the Middle Atlas Mountains, once a strategic
stopover for the desert caravan traders, provides a fitting location from which to explore
and understand the rich cultural and historical heritage of town where Berber, Arab and
Jewish communities have lived side by side for over a thousand years. The programme
immerses students into the vibrant, colourful and diverse communities, tradesmen,
merchants and residents of the ancient medina and their connection to each other, and
their environment. Moreover, it exposes their ancient practices and customs, the many
challenges they face, and how they are learning to adapt and evolve in a fast changing
world. In addition, students will take part in community lead re-generation projects that are
bringing new life and vigour to a community that has struggled for decades to regain
something of its past glory.
The programmes expected outcomes
Provide a genuine understanding of community development in Sefrou’s medina from a
historical, political, social and environmental perspective.
Discover the communities’ complex links to each other, the environment (water & land) and
monuments (historical & religious).
Learn about the traditional trades and crafts of Morocco and the struggle to survival in a
global market.
Get involved in community led re-generation projects to improve public spaces in the
medina.
Engage with local communities and individuals, creating positive, transforming and
meaningful connections.
What will we be doing in Morocco?
The programme is packed full of workshops, volunteering activities, interactive tours and
facilitated discussion groups covering historical, political, social and environmental
perspectives. Moreover our programmes engage with local communities and individuals,
creating transforming and meaningful connections.
Our Partners
Culture vultures
Culture Vultures’ mission is to enhance cross cultural exchange and dialogue through art
ventures and culture programs, connecting artist to audience, tradition to the contemporary
and local to global. For further information please go to: http://culturevulturesfez.org/
Sefrou Youth Centre
Sefrou has two youth centres providing a safe and secure environment for dozens of young
boys and girls. The centres organize workshops, musical events, outings and English
language classes and are run by volunteers from the Peace Corps. For further information
please go to: https://www.facebook.com/culturecafeofsefrou
Travel itinerary & activities
Day 1: Flight from London Stansted to Fez arrive in the evening ● Travel to Sefrou ● Evening
briefing and diner ● Overnight in Sefrou at Maison Des Lallas (for duration of stay)
Day 2: Morning: Orientation of the old city and Sefrou town ● Afternoon: Introduction to
Culture Vultures followed by ‘Sefrou and the artisans’ activities ● Dinner and discussion:
Migration to and from North Africa
Day 3: Morning: Button making & woman’s cooperative OR Lost identity tour: the battle to
preserve historical monuments (for architects and engineers) ● Afternoon: The source tour:
Water & the Medina
Day 4: Revamp the medina: whitewashing the walls & gorilla gardening: creating small
gardens in public places ● The Hamman experience: experiencing the community
bathhouses ● Dinner and discussion: The demise of the medina
Day 5: Undertake a hike into the Sefrou hills to spend the day exploring the traditions of a
small Berber community, their livelihoods, the role of women, and youth community
engagement. Hosted for lunch by a Berber family ● Return to Sefrou for dinner
Day 6: Carrying out a range of activities with kids from the Sefrou Youth Centre (to be
organised through coordinator Keri) ● Dinner and discussion: Memories of the Jewish
community.
Day 7: Carrying out a range of activities with kids from the Sefrou Youth Centre (to be
organised through coordinator Keri)
Day 8: Travel to Fez ● A tour into the great old city of Fez introducing you to wood carvers,
dyers, copper workers, tanners, weavers and more in the heart of the old medina ● Dinner
in Fez’s famous clock tower café with live Moroccan music ● Return to Sefrou
Day 9: Morning: Learn the skills it takes to become a local artisan. Watch and learn how
weavers, ironmongers and carpenters create their products ● Afternoon: Support the
Sefrou Community Library project. Dinner and discussion: Single mothers of Morocco
Day 10: Fun day out: a visit to the hot spring of Mullay Yaaqoub or the mountain resort of
Ifrane in the cedar forests
Day 11: Prepare and organise the “Celebrating Sefrou” evening bringing together the
musical and theatrical talent of the communities’ young people. To be hosted by the
students in collaboration with Culture Vultures.
Day 12: Unwind, chill and pack. ● Travel to Fez airport ● Flight Fez –London
Who can apply?
All Coventry University full time students, who were enrolled at the institution as of 1st
January 2016
What skills are we looking for?
We are looking for the participants of this programme to be able to demonstrate the
following criteria:
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A commitment to humanitarian work and social justice
A positive and dynamic approach to life
A desire to learn more about other cultures
An interest in current affairs
A commitment to teamwork
What is the cost to participate in the programme?
The programme is largely funded by generous donations from Coventry University alumni
through the Development & Alumni Relations Office. We are also grateful for the support of
the University’s Centre for Global Engagement (CGE).
All we ask of our participants is to donate £100 as a gift to the Changing Lives Programme
which will then be used to support the next cohort of successful applicants.
Accommodation
Students will either housed at La Maison des Lallas, a charming 5 bedroom Riad next to the
walls of the old city or at The Villa, a spacious 5 bedroom artist residency next to Sefrou
Citadel.
Visa rules
Below is a list of all the countries that do not require a visa to enter Morocco. If you require
a visa to travel to Morocco, you will need to apply yourself and at your own cost. For those
wishing to apply for a visa please click on the following link:
http://www.moroccanconsulate.org.uk/en/Visa.html
The visa takes approximately 2 weeks to process. Moreover, you will need to hand in your
application in person to the consulate in London.
We highly recommend that students with nationalities requiring a visa apply for the May
25th- June 6th 2016 trip as this will ensure there is enough time for the visa application
process and flight bookings.
Countries not requiring a visa
Algeria - Andorra - Argentina - Australia - Austria - Bahrain - Belgium - Brazil - Bulgaria - Canada - Chile Congo (Brazaville) - Croatia - Cyprus - Czech Republic - Denmark - Estonia - Finland - France - Gabon Germany - Great Britain - Greece - Guinea (Conakry) - Hong Kong - Hungary - Iceland - Indonesia - Ireland Italy - Ivory Coast - Japan - Kuwait - Latvia - Liechtenstein - Lithuania - Luxemburg - Mali - Malta - Mexico Monaco - Netherlands - New Zealand - Niger - Norway - Oman - Peru - Philippines - Poland - Portugal Puerto Rico - Qatar - Romania - Russian Federation - Saudi Arabia - Senegal - Singapore (They can stay one
month without visa) - Slovakia - Slovenia - South Korea - Spain - Sweden - Switzerland - Tunisia - Turkey United Arab Emirates - United States of America - Venezuela.
In order to apply you must:
1. Be able to participate fully in the programme either from 31st March -11th April or
May 25th-June 6th 2016. Please note that these dates are non-negotiable.
2. Hold a valid passport to enter Morocco and your passport must be valid for a
minimum period of six months from the date of entry into Morocco.
3. Confirm whether you have received funding from CGE for either personal or
university trips abroad in the academic year 2015/2016
Please ensure that you submit this form either electronically via alumni@coventry.ac.uk
no later than Friday the 19th of February 2016 at 4 pm
When will I know if I have been successful?
All successful applicants will be contacted by telephone on the week commencing the 1st of
March 2016 so please ensure that the number you provide is working and correct.
Unsuccessful applicants will be notified by email. Please note that we are expecting a high
level of applications for these programmes.
Further information:
Should you have any queries about this initiative or the work of the University’s
Development and Alumni Relations Office, please do not hesitate to contact Brendan StJohn,
the Changing Lives Programme Project Manager on 0247765 7126, or via email at
alumni@coventry.ac.uk.