King launches volunteerism program, social awarness and reform
Morocco, Culture, 11/1/2000

Morocco's King Mohammed VI on Wednesday launched the third national solidarity week with the poor and voiced will to preserve the operation from any misunderstanding or practice which would swerve its course from its noble objectives.

The king, who launched the week from Casablanca, expressed in an address concern "to preserve it (the solidarity drive) from any misunderstanding or practice which would swerve its course from its noble objectives.

He recalled the various moves made within the Mohammed V Foundation, whose objectives included the promotion of "a new culture of solidarity based on a new voluntarist social policy marked by transparent management, rational methods, credibility in designing and carrying out projects with rigorous follow-up to see to perpetuity and efficiency."

The king underlined that the Foundation was set up "not to create an alternative structure to compete with the whole state apparatus and public institutions in charge of the protection and social coverage in their prerogatives, or be a substitute to other social actors." The goal was rather to "give new dynamics to social action and illustrate on the field Our conception of the matter."

Here follows the full text of the royal address:

"Praise Be To God,

Prayer and peace be upon the Prophet, his kin and companions,



We are proud to launch, for the third consecutive year, the national solidarity week. We are convinced that our dear people, driven by qualities of solidarity, mutual aid among individuals and groups, by the virtues of our holy religion, the lofty values of our authentic culture based on mutual aid, will spontaneously answer Our call. This certainty, which adds to Our concern to fulfill the hopes We have for this operation, made us probe deeper in reflection on its implementation to preserve it from any misunderstanding or practice which would swerve its course from its noble objectives.

In that spirit, We have enhanced solidarity-within the frame of the Mohammed V Foundation- to achieve double objectives: on the one hand, perpetuate ancestral values and great hopes, and on the other show our firm resolve to promote a new culture of solidarity based on a new voluntarist social policy marked by transparent management, rational methods, credibility in designing and carrying out projects with rigorous follow-up to see to perpetuity and efficiency.

When We created this Foundation, Our objective was to set up an institution to give new dynamics to social action and illustrate on the field Our conception of the matter. Our objective was not to create an alternative structure to compete with the whole state apparatus and public institutions in charge of the protection and social coverage in their prerogatives, or be a substitute to other social actors.

Our effective presidency of the Mohammed V Foundation of solidarity does not make it stand out from other structures within which civil society works. To the contrary, the Foundation is proud of all contributions in this vast realm which is social action, the way it is proud of its cooperation with a large number of associations to widen the space of this action in favor of the destitute and give it more dynamic.

The huge success the two previous solidarity weeks have been met with thanks to general mobilization and the wide and sincere adhesion of our co-citizens to the achievement of this campaign's objectives, has spurred Us to launch a long-term strategy meant to bring the Mohammed V Foundation of solidarity to partake in the eradication of poverty and exclusion pockets, the implementation of sustained development programs, the strengthening of social actors activities, provide them with material and institutional back-up and widen the Foundation fields of action to new domains of social development.

Besides the interest it grants children's welcome structures, especially orphans and poor, and the support to a large number of social institutions, the Mohammed V Foundation has launched various programs for rural girls and women participating actively in consolidation of basic social structures providing them with means to ensure steady resources.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The Mohammed V Foundation, besides programs underway, has started elaborating major projects targeting rehabilitation and insertion of the largest number possible of disabled persons. It has also set up a vast program to benefit needy university students. We make the wish to see other civil society actors use as a model this bold program so that we can, all of us, provide decent housing to this category of youth so dear to Our Majesty to enable them carry on studies in better conditions.

In this regard, We would like to pay tribute to different partners of the Foundation, public administrations, associations and individuals, for their sincere and efficient contribution which helped the Mohammed V Foundation for solidarity accomplish its missions and carry out both its lasting and seasonal programs and projects.

We are proud that the carrying out of programs and projects has been made possible thanks to generous contributions of thousands of citizens within and outside Morocco which spared it from resorting to budgetary resources of the State. Let us pray God Almighty to reward all those who contributed materially or morally to the achievement of the Foundation's lofty objectives.

We will not miss the opportunity to congratulate all the members of the Foundation board of administration who, despite numerous commitments, exerted ceaseless and sincere efforts to help carry out and follow-up projects and pay tribute to artists, sportsmen and sportswomen and associative militants who contributed, both in Morocco and abroad, in promoting the objectives of the solidarity campaign in particular, and the Foundation's social action, on the whole.

This intensive collective contribution can only reinforce our determination to redouble efforts on the path of solidarity and make it benefit the largest number of our dear subjects who suffer from destitution and exclusion, and this is, in no way, out of our reach.

Peace and mercy of God be upon you."

Previous Stories:
  Toledo summer course highlights Moroccan transition   (7/17/2000)
  Funds for throne day festivities will go to the poor   (7/8/2000)
  Sponsorship campaign for Moroccan poor children launched in Paris   (6/24/2000)
  King Mohammed highlights efforts to expand democracy   (6/22/2000)
  Royal donation to poor visually impaired pupils   (5/18/2000)

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