King Mohammed launches 4th national solidarity week
Morocco, Politics, 11/8/2001

Morocco's King Mohammed VI, who was accompanied by his brother Prince Moulay Rachid, launched Thursday in Marrakesh, the 4th national Solidarity Week, held this year under the topic "Let's all participate in the solidarity chain."

In a speech he delivered on the occasion, the sovereign said the solidarity weeks have become an annual rendez-vous to foster awareness over the importance of charity work, assess mobilization in struggle against poverty and translate this mobilization into concrete actions, benefiting the poor layers of the society.

He also hailed the actions conducted by the Mohammed V Solidarity Foundation and the ambitious programs- worth 600 million Dirhams (about US$ 54.54 million)-- implemented nationwide especially with regard to children in a precarious situation and to girls' schooling.

"The Foundation also worked to provide a healthy, sound environment to the youth, to struggle against adults' illiteracy, to improve the living conditions of women and elderly persons, and to integrate the disabled persons, the poor and the social outcasts," King Mohammed VI said recalling the Foundation's actions in favor of the Moroccan expatriates when they return home for summer holidays.

Here follows a translation of the full text of the royal speech:

"Praise be to God,

May God's prayers and peace be on the prophet, his Kin and Companions,

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are so happy to dedicate the fourth National Solidarity Week, an event that has become an annual rendez-vous to foster awareness as to the importance of charity work, assess our mobilization to struggle against poverty and translate this mobilization into concrete actions, benefiting the poor layers of the society.

We highly appreciate the intense response of our faithful subjects, both at home and abroad, to Our call and their mass adherence to the supreme goals that we seek through the actions and programs of the Mohammed V Solidarity Foundation, which considers each and every Moroccan as a member. We are likewise proud of the tireless action conducted by the Foundation to materialize the lofty values that spur Our own resolve and Our people's resolve to make of the institution an efficient tool for social cohesion.

We have seen to it that the Mohammed V Solidarity Foundation, since its inception, carries out ambitious programs that target all social layers, throughout the country, granting a special interest to children in a precarious situation and to girls' schooling.

The Foundation also worked to provide a healthy, sound environment to the youth, to struggle against adults' illiteracy, to improve the living conditions of women and elderly persons, and to integrate the disabled persons, the poor and the social outcasts. The Foundation likewise endeavored to improve the welcome conditions of our faithful subjects settled abroad. All this required a total amount of more than 600 million Dirhams.

Nonetheless, We do not claim that we have met all the needs. Our goal, actually, is to anchor solidarity action as a behavior and a culture, and to make of the Mohammed V Foundation a lever, spurring all the actors that share its objectives, being convinced that the comprehensive development we wish for Our country will not satisfy us unless it benefits large categories of Our dear people.

In order to materialize our vision of development and of the policy of sharing development fruits, we have engaged the Foundation on two paths, that of redistributing its funds to promote social action, and that of partnership to carry out its programs. More than 500 associations have thus benefited from the Foundation's backing, in the form of financial assistance or goods donation.

While We note with pleasure the positive impact of this move on the creativity and output of the associative movement, we seek to promote, through our actions, a partnership that associates the targeted social layers in the process of devising and carrying out sustained development projects, focussing our efforts on the rural world and the remote, isolated areas that are suffering from a deficit in this respect.

During the tour that we have just undertaken to inquire, on the spot, about the situation of Our faithful subjects in various regions of Our Kingdom, We have launched various integrated development programs, meant to facilitate access to water, electricity, training, and health infrastructures and to promote the creation of sustained resources generating projects. The aim sought through these programs is to improve the living conditions of inhabitants, mainly the rural populations in order to stabilize them and avoid that they be tempted by exodus towards cities.

On this occasion, We would like to pay tribute to all those who contribute to the Foundation programs. We likewise laud all the targeted layers that demonstrated a large mobilization to materialize these programs and express thanks to their backing that evidences mutual trust, renewing our determination that the Foundation shall exert further efforts to remain worthy of this trust and to continue its lofty mission. With God's help, this is what we will achieve together, you, through your generosity, and the foundation through its actions.

Wassalamou Alikoum Wa Rahmatu Allah Wa Barakatuhu (God's peace and blessings be upon you).

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