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Experiential Learning Journey

              Education is never complete without experience. This is why when I received the letter of acceptance into the Civic Engagement program funded by the US Department of states and run by Institute for Training and Development (ITD) I was thrilled, ad my mind instantly filled with lot of questions. I was selected along with 16 professional fellows from Morocco with different experiences and backgrounds; giving me the feeling of being in two professional programs by learning from my Fellows from Morocco and the American counterparts’ organizations. I have always been interested in organizing and how it works in US. My main interest in the program is to be placed in an Organization that works on community organizing and brings attention to local issues and empowers people address them and put pressure on the decision makers.

I was so lucky to be placed in an AMAZING Non-Profit Organization called Pioneer Valley Project in Springfield, Massachusetts (PVP), an organization of people and institutions including labor unions among other organizations.  The PVP approach is that people should have a say in the policy decision that shape their lives. During my fellowship I have learned so Much. The PVP staff is lovely and they are amazing human beings. They are very supportive and making sure that I am learning and not missing out on any useful information. Ms. Tara Parish and Ms. Emily Rodriguez always take me to their meetings and introduce me to people in the community. I got a chance to attend the Delegates meeting that PCV organizes as way of making decisions in a participatory and democratic way and have everyone’s voice heard. Another taken lesson from my host Organization PVP is to listen to people to understand, not to reply.

Another highlights of my fellowship is visiting, for the first time in my life both men and women’s jails. This visit changed my point of view, as previously my views of US jails were shaped from movies. I had a chance to talk with people and learn about the different programs provided for the prisoners. It was really an interesting and heartwarming experience because most of the prisoners are young people. 

The reason of visiting the jail was to register the prisoners to vote. The experience blew my mind; I was shocked to see that even those in prison are able to exercise their right to vote. The prisoners have access to many education programs in order to correct their attitudes (as they use the word correction facility as opposed to jail) and behaviors and prepare them to be good citizens and do well to their community. I was surprised by one of the sayings inside the jail; it says what it means Right is that you do something even when no one asks you to do it. I left understanding that as prisoner you still have many rights, and are obliged to take educational courses.

 Another interesting area I learned about is how to prepare and design a campaign and how to develop a survey. Part of my work as a fellow is to go out and talk with people and have them fill out a survey about a local issue the PVP wants to bring people’s attention to. 

The fellowship experience is really one of my best experiences I have ever had. I have been in trainings and exchange programs before but none of them have taught me so much as this experience.  I have had the chance as part of my fellowship to meet with officials as well.   PVP my host Organization arrange me to meet with Mr. Adam Gomez a very young city counselor.

 It was so great to learn from him about how the city council works in US, city budget and also about local elections. I was really impressed by his career as he started as civil society activists and has been involved in lots of campaigns. He is a well connected person in his community.  Another job that Mr. Adam does is managing a center for Veterans who have difficulties and hard times after serving the US in Vietnam War

 Another interesting area I learned about is how to prepare and design a campaign and how to develop a survey. Part of my work as a fellow is to go out and talk with people and have them fill out a survey about a local issue the PVP wants to bring people’s attention to. 

Author

Mouhamed Ali

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