Summer Camps: A Catalyst for Education and Citizenship
Summer Camps: A Lever for Education and Citizenship
The National Summer Camp Program goes far beyond a mere seasonal activity. It serves as a vital socio-educational space that promotes the learning of citizenship values, responsibility, and cultural openness, stated the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, during the National Summer Camp Conference held in Rabat.
This meeting, organized in partnership with the National Federation of Summer Camps, is part of a collective reflection aimed at developing a new strategic vision for this emblematic program.
An Ambitious Vision for 2030
Minister Bensaid emphasized the need to transform summer camps into vibrant educational spaces throughout the year by implementing thematic programs, youth universities, and continuous training for children and young people.
He also stressed the importance of a sustainable national model for summer camps, focused on quality, innovation, and the collaboration between various institutional and associative actors. This model must align with human development goals and place children and youth at the heart of public policies.
An Inter-Institutional Commitment for the Future of Youth
In a speech read on his behalf, the Minister of National Education, Preschool, and Sports, Mohamed Saad Berrada, highlighted the fundamental role of summer camps in building a balanced personality and promoting values of citizenship and patriotism.
He announced his department’s intention to more closely integrate summer camps into the national educational system, utilizing educational spaces during vacation periods. This initiative is part of the 2022-2026 Roadmap, which focuses on improving the quality of learning, self-directed learning, and social skills development.
Summer camps also play a crucial role in promoting social inclusion and equal opportunities by providing children from rural and underprivileged areas with structured and safe environments to learn and thrive.
Childhood at the Heart of the Royal Vision
The Vice President of the National Observatory for Children’s Rights (ONDE), Ghizlane Benjelloun, recalled that this conference aligns with the Royal Vision placing children at the center of public policies.
Under the effective presidency of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Meryem, ONDE supports all initiatives aimed at providing children with creative, safe, and inclusive spaces that contribute to their holistic development and participation in cultural and social life.
Ms. Benjelloun also emphasized the integration of a child rights-based approach in youth policies to reinforce values of dignity, equality, and responsible citizenship.
A National Dialogue for a Sustainable Policy
For his part, the president of the National Federation of Summer Camps, Mohamed Gliouine, stated that this conference represents a key step in consultation among the various sector actors. Its goal is to adapt the activities and methods of the program to meet children’s needs and the social changes within the country.
He also advocated for strengthening the legal framework and the digital transition in the management, monitoring, and evaluation of summer camps to ensure their effectiveness, transparency, and sustainability.
A National Vision for Future Camps
Under the theme “A Sustainable National Program for a Civil and Safe Childhood,” these national conferences aim to review achievements, identify the sector’s challenges, and establish a national strategy for Moroccan summer camps by 2030.
This program, based on innovation, quality, and territorial equity, aspires to make summer camps a major lever for educational and social development in Morocco while reinforcing the role of youth in building the Morocco of tomorrow.
