The events of Fnideq reflect a “loss of hope” among young people and underscores the urgent need to address unemployment and restore the “right to dream,” Minister of Youth Mohamed Bensaid said on Monday in a session at Morocco’s Lower House.
Morocco faced a mass exodus of young Moroccans, who attempted to illegally cross into Spanish-occupied Sebta, in September. While authorities have thwarted the attempt, the incident raised widespread concerns over the underlying issues that have prompted hundreds of young people to opt for illegal migration.
In response to this growing disillusionment, Bensaid highlighted the government’s efforts to give young Moroccans back their “right to dream,” regardless of their socioeconomic status.
Since the current government came into office, Bensaid explained, “its primary goal has been to rebuild trust between institutions and the country’s younger generation.”
“Public sector services have always been available to young people,” Bensaid noted, “but many weren’t aware of them.”
In his address, the Minister referred to the ‘Volunteer’ program, now in its second year, providing opportunities for young people to engage with their communities. The program targets 18-22-year-olds, a group that Bensaid described as particularly vulnerable and in need of support.