Help us with traditional style of mud brick building, Outside of M'Hamid, Morocco

Details

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  Description

  We are the Laaroussi family living outside of M'Hamid in a camp next to the dunes of the Sahara. Our ancestry is Berber, the nomadic tribes that have lived here in the Sahara for centuries. There are 12 of us 8 girls and 4 boys in our family but many of us live in the city for the most part. We are excited to open our home up to you and teach you about our culture and way of life.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Gardening

  DIY and building projects

  Creating/ Cooking family meals

  General Maintenance

  Help around the house

  Hospitality/Tourism

  Language practice

  Help with Computers/ Internet
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Here you will get the chance to learn about the Berber people, experience life in the desert, practice French, Arabic, English, and Berber, and much more!

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  While you are here we can teach you our traditional style of mud brick building. We are hoping to build 3 more houses deeper amidst the dunes but it is hard due to desertification. We are also always excited to have a chance to practice new languages. Besides that you can help participate in the daily tasks and enjoy the desert!

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  Languages

  Languages spoken
  Arabic: Fluent
  Berber: Fluent
  English: Fluent
  French: Fluent

  This host offers a language exchange
  This host has indicated that they are interested in sharing their own language or learning a new language.
  You can contact them directly for more information.
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  Accommodation

  We have mud huts you can stay in or enjoy the fresh air under our star filled sky.

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  What else ...

  About my village 
  M’hamid El Ghizlane, the last village before the vast expanses of the Sahara, is a rural municipality of the Zagora province, in the southern Drâa – Tafilalet region. It is located at the end of the N9 road, after Tamegroute, and it shares its southern border with Algeria. 
  An ancient cultural crossroads – its territory used to be a stop for trans-Saharan traders – M’hamid El Ghizlane is part of a nomadic area. With its little adobe shacks made of mud or clay bricks, the little ochre village seems to come right out of sand. 
  M’hamid El Ghizlane is sheltered in a palm grove stretching for 16 km along the river Drâa (oued Drâa). On one of the banks is M’hamid Bali, the old town, which holds an important kasbah. On the other side, M’hamid Jdid, the new village, offers essential facilities: groceries, craft shops, cafés, restaurants, family hotels, … 
  Every Monday there is a souk, an opportunity to see the famous « blue men », desert camel-herders, and to buy local products, bathed in the colours and fragrances of these goods. 
  . M’hamid El Ghizlane has established itself as the main departure point for desert excursions, particularly to the dunes of Erg Lehoudi and Erg Chegaga erg ezahar ...
  
  
  While here you can explore the desert by camel or quad, visit our village of M'Hamid (about a 20 min walk away), enjoy campfire parties in the evening, and much more.
  
  How to get to Mhamid el ghazlen
  Public Transportation Access
  
  Taxis and CTM buses to multiple destinations (Zagora, Ouarzazate, Marrakech, Casablanca ...). 
  For example, there are daily departure of CTM bus from Marrakech at 11:15 am and daily return at 6:15 am at the The destination on CTM is called: Lamhamid Ghozlane. I pick you at the bus station

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 2-3hours a day, 4days a week

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