What happens when students become the architects of their own community’s future? On 29 April 2025, the High Atlas Foundation (HAF), in partnership with Sultan Moulay Slimane University of Beni Mellal, hosted a practical and educational workshop titled “Community Mapping & Evaluating Our Needs.” Aimed at fostering critical thinking and an understanding of their community, the session introduced students of ENCG Beni Mellal to the tools and methods used to better understand and assess their community’s needs through participatory ways.

The session started at 1:00 PM with Mr. Abdellah, HAF workshop facilitator, addressing a room full of excited students. He explained the mission and journey of HAF, laying the groundwork for the collaborative sessions that would follow. Students were then divided into six groups and instructed to map out their community by identifying what aspects they felt were lacking and what they wanted to change in the future.

Students engaged in a brainstorming session, filled with energy and reflective participation. Each group then presented their findings with questions and encouragement from other students in a spirit of collaborative learning. The workshop reflected one of the essential principles of participatory development: those impacted by the problems are at the center of shaping and designing the solutions.

Among the key challenges raised by the students were:

Energy Problems and Power Outages: Students proposed alternative solutions to overcome frequent energy disruptions.

Health Sector Limitations: There was a call to enhance and better equip campus health facilities, with innovative suggestions for improving healthcare access and services.

Cafeteria Access: A popular priority was the establishment of a cafeteria offering affordable, nutritious meals and beverages.

Library Facilities: Students recommended the development of a modern library equipped with Wi-Fi, reference materials, and quiet spaces for focused study.

Green Spaces and Afforestation: Ideas were shared on how to make the campus more beautiful and environmentally friendly through increased greenery.

Religious and Sports Facilities: Students proposed the preparation of a mosque and the construction of sports fields to support spiritual and physical well-being.

Throughout the session, students demonstrated a clear understanding of their surroundings and a willingness to improve them. The lively interaction, bold presentations, and excitement showed how powerful community mapping can be when people are given the space to lead.

This workshop was an empowering experience. By involving students directly in identifying their needs and proposing realistic, community-driven solutions, the event truly fulfilled the goal of participatory development: putting the tools for change in the hands of those it impacts the most, in this context, students.