Rabat, Aug. 25, 2023 – Moroccan children celebrated yesterday in Rabat their Palestinian peers from Al Quds who are taking part in the 14th summer camp, “Al Massira Al Khadra”, held by Bayt Mal Al Quds Asharif Agency in partnership with the ministry of youth, culture and communications, under the aegis of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of Al Quds Committee.
The “Fadae Al Jamil” site, where the celebration was held, hosted shows by scores of kids representing the Moroccan associations that benefit from the Moroccan national camping program that closed down on Thursday for participants in the four week-long summer camp program organized by Bayt Mal Al Quds Asharif and funded by the Kingdom of Morocco.
In the presence of officials from the ministry of youth, culture and communications, ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic missions accredited in Morocco, the celebration featured a photo exhibition of successive summer camps (2008-2023) held for Al Quds children. A total of 700 children together with 70 supervisors benefited from these camps. The celebration also included creative shows by children from Al Quds.
The minister of youth, culture and communications, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, noted in an address on this occasion that the summer program organized by Bayt Mal Al Quds Asharif reflects the solid bond with Al Quds children and provides them with rich experiences that consolidate their personal skills and competence.
He added, in the address read out on his behalf by Ms Samira Al Malizi, the secretary general of the ministry, that through the rich program of the summer camp that featured visits to several Moroccan cities and to social, economic and security institutions, the children got a chance to know about the rich history, culture and nature of Morocco, a country of tolerance and coexistence.
He also pointed out that the objective of this initiative is to embody fruitful cooperation between various regions to achieve prosperity and sustainable development to Al Quds children by providing sufficient resources and means for secure education and leisure contributing to developing their personality and capacities.
For the acting Director of Bayt Mal Al Quds Asharif, Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui, the annual summer camps held in Morocco and Al Quds are a showcase of continued connection with Palestinian generations to help them preserve their identity and spread hope of a better future for them.
Echarkaoui added that this tradition reaffirms the historical bonds existing between Moroccans and their Palestinian brethren in Al Quds, recalling the considerable actions carried out by Morocco to support Al Quds, its sanctities and its resistant population.
After expressing great pride for the State and leadership of Palestine and for the resistance of its sons and daughters, he recalled how Palestinians celebrated in the streets of Al Quds, Gaza, the West Bank and other territories the triumph of the Moroccan national squad in the World football Cup.
He stressed that this was a decisive moment showing that the Palestinian people are champions of joy and victory, that they love life, just like others, and that they are attached to their right to live on their land in dignity.
He also spoke about some activities held as part of the 2023 summer camp, stating “we are extremely proud of the supervision of His Majesty the King on this institution and the honor he granted to the Agency when he addressed a Royal message expressing HM the King’s graciousness, a fact that pushes us to commit to work even harder to achieve the lofty objectives set out by His Majesty the King as it celebrated its silver jubilee, marking 25 years of actions since 1998.
On his part, the first advisor at the Palestinian embassy in Rabat, Mohamed Rabii, praised the initiative that availed to children from Al Quds the opportunity to find out about the authenticity and richness of the history of the Kingdom of Morocco, through the varied activities that included visits to several Moroccan cities, celebrations led by an expert in children shows and summer camps, Said Bibou, shows of the Palestinian popular Debkah, popular songs performed by the children taking part in Al Massira Al Khadra summer camp, while Moroccan children, from the association of youth for development, the Moroccan scout organization and the Moroccan association of youth education, presented Moroccan folklore arts and dance shows, accompanied by the brass band of the town of Moulay Driss Zerhoune and the closing ceremony that featured a collective performance by the public of the epic song “Nidae Al-Hassan”
More leisure and educational activities and sports and arts contests are slated at the 14th summer camp held for 50 girls and boys from Al Quds.
