USAID/Morocco Mission Director Dana Mansuri joined ENCG Director Mr. Mohammed Ezznati and NDI Morocco Director Slobodan Milic at the ENCG in Tanger to mark the launch of USAID’s “Ajiw Tcharko” pilot youth civic education program. As part of the launch, ENCG, NDI, and USAID signed a Memorandum of Understanding to commemorate their joint commitment to increase youth participation in the political process through this program. ENCG is the second Moroccan university to participate in “Ajiw Tcharko”, along with Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane.

During the launch, Dana Mansuri congratulated the students on their decision to become more involved in the political process, adding that democracy is not a perfect system and that it counts on citizens to give their input in order for the process to be representative of the needs of the people. She also highlighted Tangiers’ important historical role in the American struggle for freedom and democracy, and therefore hopes that a program like “Ajiw Tcharko” will feel at home at the ENCG campus.

“Programs like this can help us change our country,” said Yasmine Benkirane, one of the 30 ENCG students who has been selected to take part in the “Ajiw Tcharko” program. In a business-oriented school like ENCG, Director Ezznati stressed the fact that the “Ajiw Tcharko” program will help students in their future careers by having a better understanding about the complex sociopolitical context that they live in. “Ajiw Tcharko” sessions will cover six modules, including: democracy, human rights, political parties, media, elections, and the legislative process. The program will also host a forum where students will meet with decision makers to develop policy recommendations on issues that matter most to youth.