Alex Wareham-Kirk (left) and Luke Emerick (right) with two tenants from Cambridge Youth Foyer during their volunteering trip to Morocco
A PAIR of young tenants from a supported housing scheme in Haverhill say they have returned from a volunteering trip to Morocco ‘with a new perspective on their lives.’
Alex Wareham-Kirk and Luke Emerick, who live at the Cangle Foyer in Withersfield Road, were joined by two members of staff and two tenants from Cambridge Youth Foyer on their eight day excursion to Marrakesh, at the foot of the Atlas Mountains.
Cangle Junction and Cambridge Youth Foyer are both run by housing association Riverside-ECHG, which works with young people who have experienced homelessness to support them to learn skills, develop confidence and move on to independent living.
Dawn Ince, team leader at Cangle Foyer, explained the reasons for the venture: “The aims of the trip was to get the young people to understand what life is like for other people in different countries, learn different cultures and maybe see what some people call real poverty.”
The trip was organised with Original Volunteers, and opportunities were set up for the party to help with a range of projects in around the city, from helping at orphanages to outdoor games in remote Berber villages.
On their first day in Morocco, Luke and Alex, both aged 21, helped out at a baby orphanage, home to about 30 babies, of which at least 15 were taken away at birth.
Luke said: ““There were so many experiences in our week long trip that have made me look at life with a different perspective and because of that feel that I will move forward with my life in proactive way embracing any chances to travel and see how others live.”
Alex added: “This was a trip of a life time for most of us and one of the most rewarding things I have ever done, I would recommend going and working with the original volunteers to anyone. We all cannot wait to be offered any similar volunteering opportunity in the future.”
During their time in Morocco, the volunteers were also given the option of helping out in other ways.
These ranged from street kid’s projects, small children’s homes, rural youth sport, activity sessions and summer sport camps.
Each volunteer had a work schedule agreed with them and organised by a co-ordinator.
.
