Rabat, September 03, 2023
Bayt Mal Al Quds Asharif held a model two-week training session in the Moroccan city of Fes on the rehabilitation and maintenance of historic buildings for 10 students of the fifth year of engineering in the universities of Al Quds and Bir Zeit, supervised by four of their professors.
The Agency held in Rabat a welcome reception for the recipient students, on the occasion of the opening of the academic and university year during which the Agency is organizing a set of projects and programs, part of its annual plan to support education in Al Quds.
On this occasion, the Agency acting director, Dr. Mohamed Echarkaoui, stressed that this initiative is held in accordance with the instructions of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, chairman of Al Quds Committee, to protect the holy city and preserve its heritage and civilization.
He also pointed out that the Agency has accumulated for over 15 years a rich experience in rehabilitation and restoration projects that concerned several buildings, mosques and cemeteries in the old city of Al Quds and inside the walls, documenting the architectural heritage of the old city together with the Palestinian national archives, in addition to purchasing real estate property, including the Moroccan cultural center property –Bayt Al Maghrib, on the Via Dolorosa avenue, considered today as an outstanding architectural landmark that blends the typical Al Quds and authentic Moroccan architectures.
He explained that the Agency is cooperating in this endeavor with a number of institutions, both in Morocco and in Al Quds, that boast a good deal of experience, in order to guarantee the success of the projects meant to restore and maintain historical landmarks in Al Quds.
Echarkaoui further noted that these Moroccan efforts are in line with the faith of the Moroccan nation, under the leadership of His Majesty the King, in the human dimension of Al Quds and are part of its constant defense of the values of tolerance, peace and co-existence, as it was underlined in the “Call of Al Quds” signed by the Commander of the Faithful, His Majesty King Mohammed VI- Chairman of Al Quds Committee- and Pope Francis on March 30, 2019, in Rabat.
On his part, the president of the Palestinian architects association, Ibrahim Al-Hindi, stressed that “this model training session will reinforce cooperation between the two countries and is in line with a previous visit of a group of Palestinian architects to Morocco”, noting that it is important that students get acquainted with the characteristics of the Moroccan authentic architecture and restoration techniques used in the historical cities in Morocco which has covered huge steps in this field.
The General Director of the Agency for the Development and Rehabilitation of Fes, Fouad Serghini Naji, briefed them on the outcome of a visit to Al Quds of a group of Moroccan architects between July 16 and 25, 2023 while Ibrahim Al-Hindi also briefed them about the visit to Morocco, between December 5-12, 2022, by a group of Palestinian architects.
Then, the president of the regional association of architects in Fes, Karim Saadi, explained to the Palestinian architect-students the contents of the training session that will take them to visit, together with their supervisors, to rehabilitation, restoration and maintenance projects in some parts of the old city of Fes to learn about the techniques used in the historic monuments.
The architecture-students thanked, in an address delivered on their behalf by Islam Bezzar, Bayt Mal Al Quds Asharif Agency for the opportunity given them to receive training on restoration and rehabilitation techniques in specialized institutions and institutes in Morocco and get a close look at the beauty and diversity of the Moroccan architectural art.
In addition to the Agency acting director, Mohamed Salem Echarkaoui, the ceremony took place in the presence of the Palestinian vice-ambassador in Rabat, Mohamed Rabii, Moroccan officials, including the General Director of the Agency for the Development and Rehabilitation of Fes, Fouad Serghini Naji, the president of the regional association of architects in Fes, Karim Saadi, and a representative of the Moroccan ministry of housing, Bouazza Baraka.
