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Focus Area
Animal Welfare & Awareness
Educational programmes on responsible animal care, biodiversity awareness, and community-driven initiatives to protect local wildlife and promote coexistence between people and animals across Morocco.
Neglected
Animal welfare is largely absent from Moroccan public education. Most young people grow up without structured knowledge of animal behaviour, responsible care, or the ecological role of local wildlife. Street animals are treated as nuisances rather than community members.
Endangered
Morocco’s biodiversity is under quiet threat. From the Barbary macaque in the Middle Atlas to migratory birds along the Atlantic coast, species are declining due to habitat loss, pollution, and human encroachment. Few young people are aware this is happening.
Disconnected
Urban youth are increasingly disconnected from the natural world. Many have never visited a national park, observed wildlife in its habitat, or understood how human activity impacts the ecosystems they depend on for food, water, and air quality.
Why This Matters
Compassion is not inherited. It is taught.
In Moroccan cities, the relationship between people and animals is often one of indifference or fear. Stray dogs and cats are avoided. Wildlife is unseen. Responsible pet ownership is uncommon. Environmental education rarely addresses the living creatures that share our streets, parks, and coastlines.
Medforumm believes that how a society treats its animals reflects how it treats its most vulnerable members. Our animal welfare programmes teach young Moroccans the science of animal behaviour, the ethics of responsible care, the ecology of local biodiversity, and the practical skills needed to make a difference in their own neighbourhoods.
We partner with local shelters, veterinary clinics, and conservation organisations to deliver hands-on learning. Participants do not just attend lectures. They volunteer at shelters, participate in community feeding programmes, monitor local wildlife, and design their own awareness campaigns. Every programme connects animal welfare to broader themes of environmental responsibility and civic engagement.
What We Cover
3
Local Programmes
3
Cities Active
Target Groups
Youth interested in animal welfare and environmental action
Community members wanting to help local stray populations
Young people seeking hands-on volunteering experience
Future advocates for biodiversity and wildlife protection
Delivery
Arabic (MSA + Darija)
Free for all participants
No prior experience needed
Rabat · Salé · Témara
How We Work
Our Approach to Animal Welfare Education
Hands-On Learning
Every programme includes direct contact with animals and real environments. Participants volunteer at shelters, assist in feeding programmes, and observe wildlife in the field. Knowledge comes from experience, not textbooks.Science-Based Content
All educational material is developed with veterinary professionals and conservation biologists. Participants learn animal behaviour, basic first aid for injured animals, and the ecology of Moroccan ecosystems with scientific accuracy.Community-Centred Action
Every programme cycle ends with a participant-designed community action: a neighbourhood awareness campaign, a shelter donation drive, or a school presentation. Learning translates into visible impact.Local Partnerships
We work with animal shelters, veterinary clinics, national parks, and conservation NGOs across Morocco. These partnerships give participants access to real professionals and real animals, not simulations.Empathy as Method
Our facilitators use empathy-building exercises that help participants understand animal experiences. This approach has been shown to improve not only attitudes toward animals but broader social empathy and conflict resolution skills.Participant Safety
All animal interactions are supervised by trained professionals. Participants receive health and safety briefings before every field activity. Protective equipment is provided. Allergies and health conditions are assessed in advance.Local Programmes
Under Animal Welfare & Awareness
Three programmes connecting young Moroccans with their local animal and natural world. All delivered in Arabic (MSA and Darija). All free. No experience or equipment needed.01
رفق
Rifq · Compassion
Flagship Programme · Year-Round
Our flagship animal welfare education programme combining classroom learning with shelter volunteering. Participants spend half their time learning the science of animal behaviour, responsible care practices, basic animal first aid, and the ethics of human-animal relationships. The other half is spent at partner shelters in Rabat and Salé, directly caring for animals: feeding, cleaning, socialising, and assisting veterinary staff. Each cycle culminates in a participant-designed awareness campaign delivered in their own neighbourhood, school, or community centre.
Key Learning Outcomes
Demonstrate safe and responsible handling and care of shelter animals
Explain the basics of animal behaviour, nutrition, and common health indicators
Perform basic first aid for injured or distressed animals encountered in the community
Design and deliver an animal welfare awareness campaign reaching at least 50 people
02
حياة برية
Hayat Barriya · Wild Life
In Development · Launch 2025
A biodiversity awareness programme taking young Moroccans out of the city and into the field. Participants visit national parks, wetlands, forests, and coastal ecosystems to observe local wildlife and learn about the ecological challenges facing Morocco’s natural heritage. Guided by conservation professionals, each field trip includes species identification, habitat assessment, and data collection. The programme covers the Barbary macaque, migratory birds of the Atlantic flyway, marine ecosystems along the Rabat-Salé coast, and the freshwater ecology of the Bouregreg valley.
Key Learning Outcomes
Identify at least 20 native Moroccan species and describe their ecological role
Conduct a basic habitat assessment using standardised field observation methods
Explain the primary threats to Moroccan biodiversity and current conservation efforts
Contribute field data to a citizen science database monitored by partner conservation NGOs
03
جيران بالفطرة
Jiran Bil Fitra · Neighbours by Nature
In Development · Launch 2025
A community coexistence programme focused on improving the relationship between urban residents and street animals. Participants learn about the ecology of urban stray populations, humane population management approaches, community feeding best practices, and how to mediate conflicts between residents and street animals. The programme partners with local municipalities and veterinary associations to connect classroom learning with real community action. Each cohort works with a specific neighbourhood to implement a practical coexistence plan that is handed over to local residents at programme end.
Key Learning Outcomes
Explain humane approaches to urban stray population management based on current evidence
Design and implement a neighbourhood coexistence plan for a specific community
Mediate at least one real conflict between residents and street animals using the programme framework
Train at least 10 neighbourhood residents in responsible community feeding practices
How to Join
Selection Process
1
Online Application
Complete a short form describing which programme interests you and why animal welfare matters to you. No CV required. No prior experience with animals needed. We welcome complete beginners.2
Brief Conversation
A 15-minute informal call with a programme coordinator. We want to understand your motivation and ensure you are comfortable with hands-on animal interaction. We also assess any allergies or health considerations.3
Selection Criteria
For Rifq and Jiran Bil Fitra: open to all youth, priority given to those with no prior access to animal welfare education. For Hayat Barriya: basic physical fitness required for field trips, plus genuine interest in nature and conservation.4
Onboarding
Selected participants receive a welcome pack with the session schedule, field trip logistics, health and safety guidelines, what to wear, and a brief orientation on animal interaction protocols before the first session.After the Programme
Alumni Pathway
Certificate and Recognition
Every participant who completes a full cycle receives a Medforumm Certificate of Completion. Participants who design outstanding awareness campaigns receive additional recognition at the cycle-closing event.Become a Shelter Volunteer
Rifq graduates can continue as regular volunteers at partner shelters, building long-term animal care experience and contributing to sustained welfare improvements.Erasmus+ Priority Access
Programme alumni receive priority consideration for Medforumm’s Erasmus+ opportunities, including environment-focused youth exchanges, training courses on sustainability, and European Solidarity Corps placements with animal welfare organisations.Community Advocates Network
All graduates join a growing network of animal welfare advocates who continue to organise awareness events, shelter drives, and community coexistence actions across Rabat, Salé, and Témara.Accountability
Monitoring, Evaluation and Quality
01
Pre and Post Assessment
Every participant completes a knowledge and attitude assessment at the start and end measuring animal welfare awareness, empathy levels, ecological knowledge, and confidence in community action.02
Partner Feedback
Shelter managers, veterinary staff, and conservation guides provide structured feedback on participant engagement, skill development, and reliability during field activities.03
Campaign Impact Tracking
Every awareness campaign designed by participants is tracked for reach, engagement, and behaviour change indicators. We measure how many people were reached and what actions resulted.04
Annual Impact Report
All data is compiled into an annual report tracking participation numbers, shelter volunteer hours contributed, awareness campaigns delivered, species documented, and community coexistence plans implemented.From the Field