As a student, I have always been particularly interested in cultures and histories that differ from my own. During my first year in university, I decided to begin learning Modern Standard Arabic, without having any background in the language or knowing anyone who could speak it. As I continued studying Arabic alongside courses on the politics and history of the MENA region, I realized that something essential was missing from my education: a deeper cultural understanding. I knew I needed to internationalize my learning experience to connect academics with the lived reality.

My university offered me the opportunity to study Arabic in either Jordan or Morocco. I made the decision to study in Morocco because I felt that Morocco possessed a unique ethnic, cultural, and geographical position. Morocco’s unique blend of Berber and Arab heritage, French cultural influence, its historical ties between Muslim and Jewish communities, and its geographic position as both a gateway to Africa and a neighbor to Europe made it an ideal place to access a kind of education I couldn’t find in a U.S. classroom.

My academic interest is in using social and economic development to combat violent extremism from a grassroots and holistic approach. At Connecticut College, I am part of the Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts, a select group of students seeking to internationalize their major through language study and an international internship, culminating in a senior capstone research project.

I discovered the High Atlas Foundation when applying to this program through an article by HAF President Yossef Ben-Meir, Mouhssine Tadlaoui-Cherki, and Kati Roumani. The article, “Countering extremism through human development” reflected my research interests in the context of Morocco. High Atlas Foundation reappeared on my radar after I committed to spending a semester studying Arabic in Morocco. I sought an opportunity to continue my time in Morocco while obtaining hands-on experience and understanding of what human development looks like in Morocco.

My short time at the High Atlas Foundation has already provided me with hands-on experience in human development projects. My second day here was spent in the village of Talat-N-Mimoun, observing the impact of HAF’s work. We were brought to the buildings where the women of Talat-N-Mimoun can sew clothing, with the structures, machines, tables, and training all provided by the High Atlas Foundation.

The women of the cooperative proudly presented us with various clothing made there in the village, from the traditional Moroccan kaftan to a cozy sweater. This clothing provides these women with the opportunity to generate income, which would not be possible without the training and supplies provided by HAF. We were also able to plant olive saplings nearby, provided in partnership with a local tree nursery. These saplings acted as a jumpstart to future benefits from these trees for the local community.

What made this visit particularly meaningful to me was my conversations with a group of local teenage girls. They were patient as I tried to speak to them in Arabic and ask them about their lives. They shared that they should be in high school, but cannot attend the school in a neighboring community because it is too far. They have no vehicular transportation and would have had to walk daily to school.

Hearing their story highlighted the importance of the initiatives from HAF taking place in the community. These opportunities to generate income for these families will allow their children access to the buses needed to continue their education, which will further act as an investment in the community’s future. This visit was an enlightening start to my time at HAF, and it has made me excited to be involved in future projects here.

Caelan Stewart is an undergraduate student at Connecticut College studying international relations with a focus on international economic development.