In commemoration of the International Day for Monuments and Sites, which falls on April 18 every year, the Foundation for the Safeguarding of Cultural Heritage of Rabat, chaired by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, is organizing discovery visits to cultural heritage sites and historical monuments in the city of Taroudant for more than 1000 male and female learners and teachers from primary schools and junior high schools in the city. This is part of the educational programs “Discover my city’s heritage – Taroudant” and “Draw my city’s heritage – Taroudant”, launched by the Foundation in partnership with the Ministry of National Education, Preschool and Sports, the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and in collaboration with ICOMOS Morocco and the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA).
The Foundation launched its educational programs in Taroudant with the aim of educating the city’s youth and raising their awareness of the importance of safeguarding historical monuments and sites, especially in light of the challenges posed by natural disasters such as Al Haouz earthquake last September, which damaged a number of heritage sites and monuments in the region. Through its many projects, the Foundation seeks to promote cultural and artistic education related to heritage in the educational process, by transmitting heritage values to young people, awakening their curiosity about their cultural heritage, and encouraging them to discover, appreciate and protect historical treasures, thus contributing to the safeguarding of this cultural heritage for future generations.
In this context, from April 15 to 19, participants in the Foundation’s educational programs in Taroudant will benefit from visits to the heritage sites of their city, such as the ramparts, the historic gates, the Kasbah, the Ibrahim Roudani Garden, the Great Mosque, the Zawaya (shrines) and the Old City, on guided tours led by a team of heritage professionals, including site conservators and monument inspectors.
Through its educational programs, the Foundation and its partners provide a pedagogical toolkit to facilitate access to and understanding of the city’s cultural heritage, called “Discover my city’s heritage – Taroudant”, which includes activities that allow those interested in the educational programs to research, explore, express, discuss and write about topics related to the heritage of their city.
The Foundation also works to raise awareness of the importance of cultural heritage among learners by means of plastic and artistic creativity, through the “Draw My City’s Heritage” program, which encourages children to research, create and stimulate their imagination in order to preserve the cultural heritage of their city. Teachers and educational staff involved in the program benefit from training courses to enhance their abilities in the field, led by specialists and experts in the fields of culture, heritage and visual arts.
