Over the first six months of the Enhancing Civil Society–University Engagement Program, the High Atlas Foundation (HAF), in partnership with the Legal Clinic at Mohammed I University in Oujda, financed by the National Endowment for Democracy, has made important progress in establishing and strengthening the second student cohort of the Legal Clinic Program.

This initiative aims to promote cooperation between universities and civil society while providing students with opportunities to apply their legal knowledge to real community needs. Since the launch of the second cohort, the program has focused on student selection, peer learning, legal training, civil society engagement, practical skills development, and legal awareness.

A Diverse Second Cohort

The journey began on March 31, 2026, with the opening of applications for university students from the Faculty of Law in Oujda.

Learning from the First Cohort

On May 11, 2026, the second cohort of students had the opportunity to learn directly from  members of the first cohort during an experience-sharing session. Rather than simply introducing the new students to the program, the session gave them a practical glimpse into what working in the legal clinic looks like beyond the classroom. 

Students from the first cohort reflected on their experiences in handling legal cases and providing legal consultations, as well as writing legal awareness articles, taking part in radio programs and awareness campaigns, and working with local associations and community organizations.

The exchange gave the new cohort a practical understanding of the Legal Clinic and highlighted the importance of teamwork, communication, professional ethics, and engagement with beneficiaries. This peer-to-peer learning also helped create continuity between the first and second cohorts of the program. By sharing both their experiences and lessons learned, they helped the new cohort better understand the responsibilities that come with engaging directly with beneficiaries and communities.

Strengthening Legal Knowledge and Professional Skills

Between May and June, the second cohort took part in four major legal training sessions by the professors from the legal clinic. The sessions were designed not only to expand students’ legal knowledge, but also to help them develop the practical judgement and professional skills needed when working with real people facing complex and human rights challenges in the Oriental region. 

The first session explored Ethics and Professional Conduct in Legal Clinics, focusing on issues such confidentiality, personal data protection, impartiality, responsibility, conflicts of interest, and respect for the legal framework. Students also discussed the importance of treating every beneficiary with dignity and without discrimination, principles that are essential when providing legal support to people who may be in vulnerable situations.

The second training turned to Law No. 02.03, which regulated the entry and residence of  foreigners in Morocco and addressed irregular migration. Rather than approaching the law only from a theoretical perspective, students worked through real life cases and judicial decisions. 

One case involved a 70-year-old Syrian woman whose son had been legally residing and working in Morocco for more than two decades. After applying for a residence card, she temporarily left Morocco but was denied entry upon her return and placed in a waiting area at Mohammed V International Airport. Seeking to challenge the decision and protect her rights to freedom of movement and family unity, she turned to the courts on an urgent basis. 

Students were asked to examine the case from different legal perspectives, including which court or procedure was appropriate, the applicant’s claims, and the arguments that could be presented by the administration This helped them practice identifying the relevant legal provisions, determining competent jurisdiction and appeal deadlines, and developing appropriate legal arguments and skills they can apply when responding to actual cases.

The third session introduced students to national and international Human Rights Protection Instruments and Mechanisms, including UN treaty bodies, the Human Rights Council, the Universal Periodic Review, Special Procedures, and the role of civil society in human rights monitoring and advocacy. Students examined a situation in which refugees or migrants reported discrimination in access to employment, education, healthcare, or other basic services. They were asked to identify which national or international human rights mechanisms could be relevant, what information or evidence would need to be documented, and how a civil society organization could contribute through monitoring, reporting, awareness-raising, or advocacy. 

The final training focused on the Rights and Obligations of Refugees and Asylum Seekers. Through practical cases, students examined challenges that refugees and asylum seekers may encounter without going through the immigration system of a specific country, including deportation, access to employment and education, housing, workplace rights, access to justice, and the principle of non-refoulement. Working through these situations encouraged students to consider how legal protection applies in practice and how different rights can intersect in a single case. 

For example, students examined a practical case involving a Burundian national who entered Morocco irregularly after fleeing his country because of threats to his life amid ongoing unrest and conflict. Following his arrest, he faced the possibility of deportation, while Moroccan authorities were also considering information suggesting that he may have been involved in criminal activity. The individual requested temporary protection while his situation was being assessed. The case challenged students to consider how different legal concerns can intersect in practice, including irregular entry, the right to seek protection, national security considerations, and the principle of non-refoulement.

Across all four sessions, the emphasis was on learning by doing. By working with real cases, judicial decisions, and practical scenarios, students were encouraged to move beyond memorizing legal provisions and develop the ability to analyse situations, identify relevant protection, and think critically about how legal knowledge can translate into meaningful support for beneficiaries. This practical approach helped bridge the gap between university learning and the realities students may encounter through legal clinics.

Bringing Civil Society into the Program

The Legal Clinic's work also expanded through stronger engagement with civil society organizations. Following an open call that attracted 35 organizations, HAF selected 10 CSOs from seven provinces of the Oriental region: Oujda, Nador, Guercif, Taourirt, Figuig, Jerada, and Berkane.

The participating organizations bring different community experiences and perspectives to the program, helping connect university learning with local realities.

On June 12, an introductory meeting brought together the selected CSOs, students, and the Legal Clinic team. Representatives introduced their organizations and discussed their potential role in student learning, community engagement, and legal awareness activities. Members of the first CSO cohort also shared the experiences and challenges they faced, like dealing with legal cases that did not have a clear and definitive solution to provide to the clients, and lessons learned, providing practical guidance to the new participants.

From Knowledge to Action

In July, university students and civil society organization representatives came together for a series of practical workshops designed to strengthen their ability to turn ideas and knowledge into meaningful community action. The first workshop, Training of Trainers (ToT): Engineering and Facilitating Workshops, led by Professor Hamid Rbii, focused on an important question: how can a workshop move beyond simply delivering information and actually engage people in learning? 

Participants explored how to set clear objectives. This can be achieved by conducting studies and research on the state of community life, developing indicators to assess its development, and proposing measures to strengthen and promote community participation, either on its own initiative or at the request of the Government. This also includes understanding their target audiences, structuring effective sessions, and using participatory approaches that encourage discussion and active involvement. For students and CSO representatives preparing to work with communities, these skills provided a practical foundation for making legal awareness and civic education more accessible, relevant, and impactful.

The second workshop, Grant Writing and Fundraising, led by expert Kenza Samoud, addressed a practical challenge for both emerging civic leaders and CSOs: how to turn community ideas into projects that can attract meaningful support. 

Participants learned how to identify relevant funding opportunities. For example, the participants worked in groups to identify potential donors relevant to their organizations and researched their priorities, eligibility criteria, geographic focus, and previously funded projects. In one case, a group working on women’s empowerment compared donors supporting gender equality and community development to identify the best match for its work. They also learned how to develop clear project objectives and indicators, prepare realistic implementation plans, and build stronger relationships with donors. These skills can help participants move from identifying community needs to developing initiatives that are both credible and sustainable.

The third workshop, ToT: Strategic Planning for Digital Civic Initiatives, brought students and CSO representatives together in multidisciplinary teams to tackle real community challenges. Rather than working on these issues in isolation, participants examined their root causes. For example, for the group who worked on the area of education, they identified that an essential root cause of dropping out of school is the severe climate change impacts in their area. 

They also developed objectives, mapped key stakeholders, and designed strategies for digital engagement. The collaborative approach encouraged them to draw on different perspectives and consider how digital tools can strengthen community participation and civic action.

The fourth workshop, ToT: Financial Management and Compliance with Donor Requirements, led by Youssef Benabbou, HAF’s Finance Manager, focused on the responsibilities that come with managing funded initiatives. Participants explored grant procedures, budgeting, financial reporting, compliance, and audit requirements. Understanding these processes gave them a stronger appreciation of how transparency, accountability, and sound financial management can contribute to the credibility and sustainability of civic organizations.

Together, the workshops gave students and CSO representatives more than a set of technical skills. They created an opportunity to learn from one another, apply new knowledge to practical challenges, and build the confidence and tools needed to turn ideas into effective civic initiatives. By bringing university students and civil society practitioners into the same learning space, the workshops also helped lay the groundwork for stronger collaboration between the university and communities in the Oriental Region.

Strengthening the Human Side of Legal Consultations

On July 10, students also participated in a Soft Skills workshop for effective legal consultations facilitated by Kenza Samoud. The training focused on communication, active listening, empathy, decision-making, problem-solving, teamwork, leadership, adaptability, time management, and stress management. Students explored how these skills can be used throughout the consultation process from welcoming beneficiaries and building trust to gathering information, explaining legal advice and agreeing on next steps.

The training reinforced the importance of confidentiality, impartiality, respect, non-discrimination, transparency, and professional responsibility in providing rights-based legal services.

Sharing Legal Information with Communities

Alongside the training activities, the second cohort has begun contributing to the Legal Awareness Campaign, which aims to make legal information more accessible to the public through articles and online awareness activities.

More than ten articles have been produced on a range of legal and social issues, including migrant rights, human trafficking, migration policy, public debt, banking complaints, labour rights, housing, and urban planning.

The campaign provides students with an opportunity to transform their legal research and learning into accessible information that can reach audiences beyond the university.

Six Months of Progress

During these first six months, the second cohort has moved through several important stages: recruitment, selection, peer learning, legal training, civil society engagement, practical skills development, and public legal awareness.

The project has so far brought together 58 university students and 10 civil society organizations, representing seven provinces of the Oriental region. Four legal training sessions and four joint capacity-building workshops have been completed, alongside a growing legal awareness campaign.

Participant feedback and pre- and post-training assessments indicate increased knowledge and understanding across key areas, including legal empowerment, migration, human rights, community engagement and organizational development.

The progress of the second cohort demonstrates the value of creating spaces where academic learning, practical legal skills and community engagement can come together.