In the Kingdom of Morocco, Terre des hommes (Tdh) focuses on two areas of expertise: specialised cardiac care for children in the country and abroad, and help for the institutional reinforcement of national NGOs in the areas of social and health care.

Specialised health care - From the beginning of our intervention at the end of the 1960s, Tdh has concentrated on basic and specialised care in a country where a large part of the population has little access. If possible, the child is treated in Rabat. But with a healthcare infrastructure that suffers from delays, Terre des hommes offers the possibility for transfers for care abroad (in Switzerland, Spain and France). It’s a measure that has so far involved over 1,200 children in need of cardiac care.

Institutional reinforcement - Alongside the national organisations active in the areas of social and health care, Terre des hommes provides its technical assistance for associations who have taken over our projects, and supports the institutional development of other actors through financial assistance, or in management and planning.
Five years after his accession to the throne, King Mohammed VI has recently launched a large-scale project intended to address particular needs in Morocco. Most notably, one programme aims to reduce the social deficit for the most improverished populations; another is intended to improve access to equipment and basic social services; and another again to assist the most vulnerable.


Tdh yesterday…
If our contemporary activities are based on specialised care and the institutional reinforcement of associations, the many other activities undertaken in the 37 years of our presence in Morocco have now been taken over by various national organisations.

Aid projects for single mothers and the prevention of abandonment were taken over in Casablanca and Agadir by local associations. For children living on the streets in Casablanca, our project was continued in 2000 by a national NGO. Finally, we have been able to ensure the takeover of our project for schooling support for the children of single mothers in Agadir.

The earthquake at Al Hoceima in February 2004 also created a need for our resources, such as equipment and immediate aid product needed by thousands of families. Tdh is also involved in the consolidation of civil society by helping its partners with technical and financial planning, and by continuing its health programme.


…and tomorrow
Numerous encouraging signs from the opening up of the regime and the reinforcement of civil society – most notably in the very ambitious National Initiative for Human Development – have allowed us to develop new projects. From the beginning of 2006, our support for national associations will be supplemented by help in the creation of networks in the areas of women and children in need, single mothers and the prevention of abandonment.


Real live
Salma and Samya were born on 18th December 1996. Not just twins, but conjoined! Daughters of a very poor family, they began their lives in catastrophic conditions. They risked abandonment because of the shame that their parents could have felt. But, fortunately, their parents wanted to fight to protect them.

After 16 months in hospital in Rabat, the girls were operated on in Madrid in April 1998. Everything went well and for the first time, they found themselves independent of one another. Returning to Morocco, they were care for by medical, social and school services. Numerous medical treatments allowed them to regain most of their abilities, even if persistent health problems require later surgical care.

Where school is concerned, Salma and Samya have been able to enter the primary system thanks to a private school which welcomed them and surrounded them with the necessary attention – all while making sure their schoolmates treated them like normal children. Every year the girls get excellent marks, and slowly but surely they have been able to make friends. Finally, their parents receive help to provide them with decent and comfortable surroundings.

It was a circle of solidarity that allowed these two girls to live the most normal possible life despite their handicap at birth. The story of the men and women in the hospitals, of the hosting families, and associations, who came together to combat disaster and to achieve the radiant smile on the girls’ faces today.