Reflections from the Field: Grassroots Activism in Morocco

In September 2024, several donors and allies joined Fund staff for a trip across Morocco. Over nine days, the group met with human rights activists, learned about the issues they face, and explored the work of the Fund and local grantee partners. Jenny Fan Raj, a writer from the Bay Area, shared these reflections after the trip.

I held my arm above my friend’s head as if to crush her with an invisible baton. Though it was only acting, playing the role of an oppressor physically revulsed me. The Theater of the Oppressed, housed in a small workshop on the outskirts of Rabat, Morocco, was one of the many surprising places I found myself in during my weeklong trip with the Fund for Global Human Rights, which was filled with camaraderie, new experiences, and most importantly, a lasting sense of optimism.

We spent the week meeting with local grantees, from Prometheus, focused on narrative change, to Action Jeunes Regionale (AJR), which promotes youth advocacy. Each day I listened to stories of impact while drinking cup after cup of delicious, sweetened mint tea—Morocco’s famous culture of hospitality on full display. What struck me most was their passion. Our world can feel disappointing at times, but to be in the room with these activists is to be inspired by their devotion to bettering their country.

A few moments of many that have stayed with me:

Innovation

The Khemisset Young Lawyers’ Association (AJAK) uses any and all tools to educate communities about their rights. To reach remote Amazigh villagers with low rates of literacy, they broadcast over the radio. They organize donkey caravans to inform women in remote areas about Morocco’s family code, which restricts child marriage and criminalizes domestic violence. And every week, staff members from AJAK visit fresh markets so they can provide support and resources about free legal aid.

Dignity and Pride

At a meeting with ALECMA, a migrants’ rights organizer told me the story of a young man born in Morocco who had just graduated from high school and was able to help his sub-Saharan African migrant mother obtain her residency papers. “Imagine that!” he beamed, his face shining. “One of us standing in court and speaking fluent Arabic!” My heart filled with the same pride that lit up the other faces in the room. We didn’t speak the same language, but in that moment we all felt connected through the language of parental love.

The Future

The highlight of the trip for me—though the gorgeous mosque in Casablanca was certainly stunning—was being able to share meals with young activists and understand them at a deeper level. I ate a delicious homemade tagine with a group of college women volunteers at El Amane, a community center for women and youth. These girls had traveled over 24 hours by motorcycle to reach remote villages near the Atlas mountains, where rural communities impacted by the earthquake last year had been unable to access government aid. The activists were able to reach these remote areas and document the needs of local people. It was so fun to get to know them at a personal level and the experience left me hopeful, knowing that Morocco’s young people are strong and empowered to supercharge the changes they seek.

My role as an ally feels small compared to the huge work these activists are doing, but it has galvanized me nonetheless. We live in an imperfect world, and though we may never reach perfection, we all have a role—in whichever capacity we choose—to make it a better place