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By Ethan C., YES Abroad 2024-2025 Morocco

Among the many wonders that Morocco has to offer, there exist scenic getaways where people go to take a moment for themselves. From beaches to botanical gardens, to hiking trails and shaded parks, people enjoy these natural spaces where they can venture solo or get together with friends and family to spend downtime beneath the shade of a green canopy or along the crashing waves of a vast ocean.

Whether surrounded by the bustling city or distanced by bands of asphalt, you’ll find these retreats throughout Rabat and the neighboring cities of Salé and Kénitra. I recall that earlier in August, we had one of our first experiences on a public bus en route to a botanical garden. The gardens were a refreshing break from the stir and commotion of the bus ride. All of the different types of trees meshed into one great shade of leaves, shielding us from the heat of the sun. Various flowers bloomed proudly amongst the bushes, while shy, quiet ferns brushed the grounds beneath. The trip felt like an excursion into a rainforest; someplace far from the humming of the Rabat metropolis. In botanical gardens such as these, it is apparent that there exists a dedication to safeguarding our planet and environment, as well as to raising awareness about the importance of this work. Morocco has made significant strides in addressing climate change and is committed to improving the condition of our world, though there’s still a long way to go in terms of a united effort to help combat climate change.

One group, named the Earth Advocates Club, has charged themselves with tackling climate change and is led by a YES alum who spent their academic year in the United States. The Earth Advocates Club was founded by Ilyass, and their mission goes beyond mere cleanup efforts; they aim to empower young people to become active ambassadors of their environment, believing that meaningful change begins at the community level.

My friend Kylie and I joined the Earth Advocates Club for a forest cleanup that ended up being more than just a volunteer activity. We met Ilyass and a group of others to begin a structured cleanup, and as we walked through the forest, carefully collecting discarded plastics, bottles, and various debris, we watched our collection grow—eighteen bags in total, each representing a small victory against environmental neglect. The initial thought of a volunteer project turned into a meaningful community involvement where we could see the impact in real time.

One of the most memorable moments from that day was the community response. In general, we could see the gratitude from locals around us. Some people would stop and thank us for our work, but others even joined in to help our efforts. Without hesitation, kids, men and women joined our group, picking up trash and sharing smiles feeling good about the work being done. It was a powerful reminder that environmental care knows no boundaries—it is a universal language of respect and collective responsibility to our earth. The gratitude from locals, a communal effort to pick up the forest, and the sense of immediate impact helped make our volunteer work feel deeply meaningful.