Description
Hey dear friends!
I am Ali and I live in the small village of M‘hamid located in southern Morocco just at the edge of the Sahara desert. In February 2021, I bought an approximately one hectare big piece of land for which it is my dream to build a camping site: for travelers with tents, camper vans, or those who want to experience some sort of glamping under palms. While traveling this should become their oasis of relaxation in hammocks and a place for exchange with like-minded travelers.
Due to the lack of tourists the last two years and misconstructions at the site, I, unfortunately, had to pause the project temporarily, but 2022 is my year of hope: Therefore, I would be overly happy to welcome volunteers who support me make this dream come true. Main activities would be building and gardening the camping site with me and/or promoting it online via the website, social media, etc.
Another project I am just kicking off in the center of M´hamid in some empty rooms above our family-owned café is a sewing association. I hope with this to support the women in town, giving them a safe space to come together and teach each other sewing and eventually produce some traditional clothing to sell locally and throughout Morocco. For this project, the Canadian Embassy borrowed a bunch of sewing machines. In the beginning, the women are instructed by professionals and later work independently. In order to attract potential buyers, sponsors but also volunteers, we are working on building a website, which is where you might come into play helping us with this creative process.
In exchange and next to offering accommodation, I hope to give you an authentic idea of how life and culture are like in the desert. Looking forward to meeting you!
Types d'aide et opportunités d'apprendre
Jardinage
Bricolage et construction
Aide à la maison
Aide informatique/internet
Echange culturel et opportunités d'apprendre
I’m hoping to host many people at the same time to get helpers from many cultures together.
Born in a nomad family, I can give you some insights about the culture of the Nomads/Berbers.
I can teach you ecological architecture such as building houses the traditional way using self-made mud bricks or creating ornaments. or how to properly garden desert Plants including Palms (this depends on the work that needs to be done at the moment)
Through my travel agency I could organize some Desert trips for the Days off for backpacker-friendly prices .
Aide
Project Details:
Since both projects are still in their infancy, at the beginning the main activities for volunteers will be:

Building the camping site:
That includes gardening/weeding, sowing new plants, smoothing soils, and watering the date palms with the water coming from the self-built dwell and pump (powered by a solar panel), clearing away bricks as well as in the future building new ones from mud for guesthouses

Online / Social Media:
That includes posting pictures/videos about the progress of the camp site's build-up on Instagram and Facebook as well as maintaining the website of the women sewing project e.g. improving search engine optimization, adding blog articles etc.

Whatever activity you prefer, you can spend more time at our Café right in the center of M‘hamid working online for the sewing project or the campsite or at the camping site 5 km outside of M‘hamid which I would drive you to. I expect 3 hours of help per day with 2 days off per Week.

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Aniko and Leon, my first volunteers, liked to get up around 9 and start their day working physically in the cooler morning hours in the camp for 2 hours. Later in the afternoon, I would get them back to the café, where they worked on my online appearance for like two hours. Sometimes in the evening, we had dinner together after that they go to sleep. With more volunteers being there, I could totally imagine accomodating them in the camp, also doing bonfires in the evening, cooking and chilling together, etc.
Langues parlées
Arabe: Courant
Berber: Courant
Anglais: Intermédiaire
Français: Intermédiaire
Hébergement
Depending on how many volunteers are currently there, you would be accommodated either at the Café (2 Private Rooms with double beds available) or at my Camp (which is certainly the more fun experience when there are many volunteers). Once the first houses are built at the Camping site you could as well sleep there (or if you come by Camper).
The Café has a well-equipped kitchen in which helpers can prepare food. Groceries are available in many shops and the Market in the city. Moreover, there are many restaurants and snack bars next door.
When some more infrastructure is built on the camping site, there will be the possibility to cook food there as well.
Optional - I can also organize Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner in exchange for 60 Dh (~6€) per day, if this is wanted.
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Other benefits :
- Free drinks in the cafe in M´hamid (non alcoholic)
- If you like I can organize trips for one or more days into the Sahara desert including Sandboarding, Camel riding, 4x4 (whatever you like) through my travel agency for backpacker-friendly prices.
Autres infos...
During Free time: Exploring Sahara Desert via Camel, 4x4, or walking; Erg Chigaga, sandboarding, Wadi Draa Valley and their oasis (also next to Mhamid), visiting the Local market (on Mondays),

Transportation: public Bus (CTM arrives Daly at around 21:00 from Ouarzazate and leaves back to Ouarzazate 06:30 in the morning
Informations complémentaires
- Accès Internet
- Accès Internet limité
- Nous avons des animaux
- Nous sommes fumeurs
- Familles bienvenues
Possibilité d’accueillir les digital nomads
There is the possibility to work in my cafe in Mhamid, Wifi connection up to 20 Mbps (up- and download) ping around 40ms, many plugs for charging.
Espace pour garer des vans
Campervans and Caravans can stay on my oasis we are currently turning into a camping site.
Possibilité d'accueillir les animaux
Allowed on the Camping site aswell as in the Cafe and private roomes at the Cafe
Combien de volontaires pouvez-vous accueillir ?
Plus de 2
Nombre d'heures attendues
Maximum 3 hours a day, 5 days a week