In May 2023, 10 students and two staff members from the Pam Rector Center for Service and Action spent 10 days experiencing the social, cultural, and political landscape of Rabat, Morocco for an Alternative Breaks (AB) summer trip. The group worked with community leaders to learn and engage in migration and human rights issues in the African country. The group spent time with local university students, broadening their understanding of Moroccan culture and Islam through visits to historical sites.
One of the most central moments of the trip for students and staff was visiting a Hassan II Mosque in Casablanca. “This was one of the most memorable parts of the trip for me and it’s one of the largest mosques in the world,” said Jenni Mendez, CSA assistant director for Alternative Breaks and advocacy. “The celestial building is partially built over the ocean and provides beautiful views of the Atlantic. I was shocked to learn the top of the dome opens for ventilation at the busiest times of the year. I learned so much while on the AB trip and felt in awe when visiting this sacred place.”
Sarah-Jane Thomson ’24, a health and human sciences major from Denver, Colorado, joined the AB trip with a desire to expand her knowledge of justice issues and learn about justice work going on in other places. “I also wanted to share the experience with others in a meaningful way through learning and growing alongside them,” said Thomson. “During the trip, we had the opportunity to hear from activists about their work on women’s rights and the rights of the Amazigh Indigenous people. We also spoke to a human rights attorney about his work and engaged in conversations with local college students about cultural and political life.”
Thomson came to LMU because she wanted to be part of a community that was passionate about social justice work and committed to helping students engage in that work “My favorite part about LMU is going to all the on-campus events that are organized by students and being involved in different ways at CSA has been really formative for me because it’s given me opportunities to engage in justice and has been a community that I really value,” said Thomson.
For Shady Malak ’24, a graduate student in the LMU School of Film and Television loved the interviews the team had with immigrants over there. “I really loved it when everyone starts sharing their personal stories,” said Malak. “I realized how grateful I am. We take a lot of things for granted, while they can be a dream for other people. I wanted to explore different cultures, get in contact with diverse societies, and learn more about their social justice problems.” Some of the most memorable experiences for Malak were, the culture discussions, all the field trips, going to the Moroccan Parliament.
For this trip, LMU partnered with the Moroccan Center for Arabic Studies, a community partner whose work is focused on establishing strong ties to allow participants from all over the world to learn about Moroccan modern yet traditional Morocco. Established in 2011 the Moroccan Center for Arabic Studies to offer immersive quality cultural programs where participants can learn, impact, touch, and are touched by helping and connecting with the local community in Rabat.
Want to learn more about LMU’s Alternative Breaks program? Visit the website for details and information on the 2023-24 AB trips which will be released in early fall.