US ambassador launches construction of American school in Casablanca suburb

US ambassador to Rabat, Thomas Riley, on Friday laid the foundation stone of an American school in Dar Bouazza, a Casablanca suburb.

The 5-hectare school, affiliated to the city's George Washington Academy, will cost 100 million dirhams (US$ 11 million).

With this new school, the academy is expected to receive some 1,000 students during the ten coming years, against 450 currently.

The US embassy also extended a 50,000 dollar donation to the Casablanca-based Insaf association to support its action plan against child labor and exploitation.

The donation was handed by the US ambassador, in the presence of secretary of state in charge of family, solidarity and social action, Yasmina Badou, who said her department will contribute some 22,000 dollars to Insaf's program.

Insaf was founded in 1999 by volunteers, mainly doctors, attorneys and entrepreneurs to support abandoned children and women facing difficulties.