Culture: Young Entrepreneurs in Morocco
Cruising through Morocco's bustling streets, I encountered something remarkable: young children, barely school-aged, hustling to make ends meet. As a supporter of instilling a strong work ethic in children, these encounters made me reflect on the societal dynamics at play. Unlike the lemonade stands or school fundraisers I'm used to back home, these children weren't just seeking pocket money; they were often selling goods to survive and working to support their families.
This reality raised questions about education policies in Morocco. According to a report by Human Rights Watch, although Moroccan law prohibits children under 15 from working, exceptions are made for those engaged in economic activity. The report highlights that approximately 1.2 million children in Morocco are engaged in economic activity, with 372,000 of them being under the age of twelve. This statistic highlights the frequency of child labor in the country and the challenges it poses to education.
One of the most striking encounters during my travels was with Aime, our tour guide in Casablanca, who halted our journey to engage with a young boy pushing a mobile swing set along with his brother towards the beach. Aime asked the young boy, "Why are you not in school? Please tell me you did not stop going". This showed the commonness of children abandoning formal education to support their families. Aime stated that this was a very common practice within her culture. Thankfully it was a Sunday! The young boy did not have school and decided to use his free time to help his brother for the day. It was a reminder of the socioeconomic pressures that often prioritize labor despite laws mandating education. Enforcement remains a challenge, especially in rural areas, but it is extremely common in major cities such as Casablanca and Tangier as well. Economic pressures and cultural norms escalate high dropout rates, continuing a cycle of poverty.
While economic empowerment is important, it should not come at the cost of education. Investing in social welfare and making quality education accessible is crucial to breaking the cycle of poverty. Meeting young entrepreneurs in Morocco showed me the resilience of children, but it also highlighted the conflict with my belief in the power of education. As someone who values education and wants to be an educator, I envision a future where every child can learn, grow, and thrive in school. The commonness of child labor in Morocco, driven by economic needs, shows a major problem: children giving up education to survive. This issue challenges my ideals and underscores the need for a balanced approach that supports both economic empowerment and educational advancement. These encounters also made me realize my privilege, as I did not have to worry about working while going to grade school. This realization deepens my commitment to advocating for policies that ensure all children have the same opportunities I had to focus on education without the burden of economic pressures.
Human Rights Watch. (2005). Morocco: Child Labor. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/reports/2005/morocco1205/4.htm
Stephan, I learned so much from your post and really enjoyed the information that you shared. Having missed this tour with Aime, I am so glad you shared that experience. Because I work with children, I was drawn to the title of your post as it also reminded me of the children that I have encountered on the streets that have tried to sell me something. While I do think that these experiences of working and/or selling can be great leanings opportunities in and of themselves, I do agree with you that this should ideally not come at the cost of giving up their schooling and education. I think back to my past experiences as a child and selling Girl Scout cookies door to door - not exactly the same but a similar experience of learning certain skill such as communication, business, and goal setting. As an extension youth development educator, we believe in students learning by doing. What benefits do you think that this entrepreneurial experience for these children could provide versus the benefits of going to school?
ReplyDeleteHi Lauryn,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your thoughtful reflection. I completely agree with your perspective on the importance of balancing entrepreneurial experiences and formal education for children. From my perspective as a new Agricultural education graduate with an emphasis on extension education, I see great potential in blending these two approaches. For example, we can incorporate project-based learning in schools where students run small businesses or community projects as part of their curriculum. This way, they can apply theoretical knowledge in more practical settings, experiencing the benefits of entrepreneurship while continuing their formal education. Extension programs can offer after-school workshops and summer camps focused on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and leadership. These programs can provide a structured environment for kids to explore their interests and develop new skills without compromising their academic progress.
As you stated, in extension education, we emphasize "learning by doing,". I believe we can achieve that goal by applying these practices to create well-rounded individuals who are not only academically proficient but also equipped with the practical skills needed to navigate the real world.
It's definitely been very interesting to see how widespread the practice/necessity of having kids peddle small goods on the street has been through about every town. With how locals react to them being out of school at such a young age it makes you wonder if and how the government could do something about it. From the perspective of the government, having a noticable piece of your youth not engaging in education that could lead to future generations having greater opportunities is a massive issue. With that in mind, I wonder if it'd even be possible for the state to do anything about this issue directly. As you mentioned, these kids do this to help their families in any way they can and therefore the problem is one that is bigger than just encouraging education. I'm really stumped, would love to know your thoughts.
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