Dream On

Alas! I have my work placement!!!!!
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I just got an e-mail from Sharon, my Program Manager, stating that I will be volunteering at an orphanage! It is called the Lala Maryem Center for Abandoned Children and is a large orphanage located within Rabat.

Needless to say, I am ecstatic. While I was willing to serve wherever help was needed, it has always been a dream of mine to volunteer in an orphanage and care for children that are less fortunate. And when I say always, I mean it! I remember wanting to work in an orphanage since I was as young as 5 or 6. After doing a little jig and some personal high-fives with myself (no one else was home), I e-mailed Sharon back and told her how excited I was and how I can't believe that this dream of mine is finally coming true. This was part of her response:

Yes, one of your dreams is about to come true, and you will have many more dreams to dream, too!

And that was all it took for me to start crying. To think of where I was in the recent past and to reflect on where I'm at now and all of the health, happiness, and dreams that are now a part of my life- it's so overwhelming in the best of ways! Exactly two weeks from today I will be in Morocco, soaking up the wonders of adventure. It's such a fantastic feeling, and I feel beyond blessed because I know Sharon is right; this is just the beginning.

As for this dream, I'm ready!

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Here are some of the details of my work placement:

Lala Maryem Center for Abandoned Children

Mission and Needs of the Partner Program

The objective of this center is to provide social, health, psychological and educational care for abandoned
children. The center houses approximately 250 orphans or abandoned children; of that approximately 25 of
them have physical challenges. The children are divided into 3 different groups; babies under the age of two,
infants and those who are physically-challenged.
The orphanage was founded in 1914 by a French man, and the building was previously used as a hospital.
The Government provides the orphanage 2% of their budget and the rest of the funding is from by private
donors.



Volunteer Activities / Duties

• Assist the nurses with daily routines such as
feeding, dressing and changing the children.

• Assist the nurses with transporting, lifting and
other daily activities for patients with physical and
mental challenges

• Provide individual attention and eye contact and
loving words (in any language) to the children.

• Be a role model. Encourage and praise the
children while also enforcing rules of good
behavior.

• Provide recreation and take out the
children/patients for fresh air in the garden

• Provide physical therapy and activities for those
with physical and mental challenges