New Horizons: Youthlinc Expands to Morocco with RootEd Global 2026

Youthlinc is officially launching a brand-new RootEd Global trip in Morocco! Our first team will be traveling in May of 2026, and we can’t wait for our participants to explore everything the country has to offer. The Local Solutions, Global challenges trip will focus on Sustainability and Communication in a Moroccan and Global context. Priority Registration for this trip closes December 1, so now is the time to join in on this exciting adventure. 

We’ll be starting the trip in the Capital city of Rabat, famous for its rich history and vibrant culture, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its architectural and Urban Planning. Participants will spend their days here learning about Morocco and meet with a variety of organizations to learn environmental and resource management challenges, exploring how indigenous approaches, local associations, and grassroots solutions address these issues. We’ll also have the opportunity to spend an afternoon with a group of Moroccan university students, holding a joint discussion addressing key challenges. While in Rabat participants will have the opportunity to stay in the medina, or old town, right at the heart of the bustling capital to soak in everything this city has to offer.  

Next we’ll head to Fez known as “Mecca of the West” and the “Athens of Africa” to take a deep dive into the rich culture of this North African country. Here our participants will stay in a Riad, a traditional Moroccan home that looks unassuming on the outside and glamorous and decorative on the inside. We’ll spend some time exploring the famous Medina’s of Fez with bustling alleyways rich in culture and history. Make sure to watch out for the Mule’s carrying loads or Motorcycles whipping by.  

Next we’ll head by train to Marrakech, the cultural capital of the country. Tourism is alive and booming in this exciting and unique city. While in Marrakech the group will have a chance to visit with the High Atlas Foundation and hear their success stories working with women’s cooperatives, farmers, and other grassroot initiatives fighting environmental challenges.  

From Marrakech, we’ll head outside the city towards the desert and visit Zerkten. In Zerkten, we’ll be staying on the campus of a rural NGO school that provides schooling to over 400 kids who historically have had limited access to education. We’ll learn from community leaders who have implemented incredibly successful initiatives to support these students. We’ll also have the opportunity to work side-by-side with these young students to develop their nursery and greenhouse projects, as well as plant almond trees in the surrounding area.  

Next up the group will take some much needed time off and head to Zagoura, just on the outside of the Sahara desert and embark on a camel-safari adventure. We’ll ride camels through the desert until we arrive at a glamorous tent camp. After spending the night in the desert, we’ll ride the camels once again back towards civilization. After our incredible excursion, the group will head back towards Marrakech to catch their flight home. 

We’re also thrilled to be working with our in-country coordinator, Dr. Saad Alami Merrouni. Saad has spent his academic career studying culture and migration patterns, has worked in the Ministry of Migration, and now works as a Professor at the Mohammed V University in Rabat. Saad has worked with many international university groups and is an expert in hosting students from all over the world. We couldn’t be more thankful to Saad for opening his network and providing a wealth of connections and learning opportunities for this time. He plays a vital role in helping us build sustainable partnerships.  

This is your chance to be part of Youthlinc history by helping us launch our very first Morocco team. Spots will go quickly, with the RootEd Global priority registration closing December 1. Learn more and register today at https://www.rootedglobal.org/morocco. We’re honored to begin this new partnership and can’t wait to see the learning opportunities and impact that will unfold in Morocco. Will you be part of the very first Youthlinc Morocco team?