On the morning of Monday, February 16, my trip to Agadir was far more than a professional assignment to document a workshop; it was a significant milestone in my personal and professional journey. The destination was the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Ibn Zohr University of Agadir, Morocco., where Dr. Yossef Ben-Meir, president of High Atlas Foundation, conducted an interactive workshop for the students. However, the day did not truly begin in Agadir—it began the evening before, as I prepared meticulously as if approaching a critical mission requiring full readiness.

I carefully assembled my equipment: camera, memory cards, checking storage space, charging batteries, and preparing the speaker system we would need during the workshop. Preparation was not only technical but also mental; I envisioned potential scenarios, imagined the day’s flow, and then set my alarm for 7:00 a.m., trusting that I was ready. Punctuality became the first real test. Mr. Abdelghani arrived on time, and we set off toward Marrakech to pick up the team before continuing to Agadir. I realised that professionalism begins before reaching the venue—through attention to small details and silent discipline.

At the office, I became more familiar with the team, exchanged greetings, and engaged in friendly and professional introductions. While waiting for volunteers Linda and Omar to join, I sat with Ms. Mariem Ait Hfid, and our conversation quickly turned into a mini morning workshop. She shared insights about daily operations, challenges, problem-solving methods, and the importance of discipline and responsibility. I felt I was learning before the official assignment had even begun, and the day was already offering valuable lessons.

Once the volunteers joined us, we continued to Agadir, stopping for breakfast along the way. We shared a traditional Moroccan meal with fresh olive oil and introduced Linda and Omar to local dishes. It was as much a cultural moment as a human one. Omar, a student of Business and Accounting in Virginia, Canada, was equally interested in our discussions on economic and social issues during the journey. As the landscape unfolded—towering mountains, scattered villages, and vast expanses of argan trees—I sensed that the natural surroundings were setting the stage for an extraordinary day.

Upon arrival at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences, Ibn Zohr University of Agadir, Morocco, we were welcomed by Professor Afaf Hamzaoui and proceeded directly to the office of the dean, Dr. Mohamed Naji. The meeting was not merely ceremonial but a deep intellectual exchange, revealing a disciplined and highly cultured academic personality. Introductions followed: Linda spoke of her background in sociology and psychology; Omar presented himself as a Business and Accounting student, and I introduced myself as a participant in the “Rising Roots” programme, funded by the Big Heart Foundation in partnership with the High Atlas Foundation. The dean asked precise questions regarding the impact of previous workshops: Were there tangible results? Has student behaviour changed? Were they more capable of expressing themselves and taking initiative? It was clear he was interested in measurable outcomes, not superficial activities.

The discussion touched on funding challenges after certain international support decreased during Donald Trump’s administration, affecting the continuity of some programmes. Nevertheless, the dean affirmed the faculty’s commitment to assume partial responsibility to sustain these initiatives for the students, emphasising the need to move from rhetoric to action and from promises to tangible indicators. I was impressed by his positive rigour and extensive knowledge, reflected in his comparative examples of international experiences and his library, which demonstrated his depth of interest.

When asked to speak about one of the programme's workshops, I recalled the “Friendship System” exercise, sometimes referred to as the “Rope Exercise", a central part of the Positive Masculinity workshop. Though simple in form, its impact was profound: participants create a network using a rope, passing a section to another while sharing both strengths and areas for improvement with honesty and respect. As the exercise progresses, a visually interconnected web forms, symbolising the cohesion and bonds within the group. I emphasised that the post-exercise atmosphere was vastly different from before; it broke barriers among participants, created a safe space for open communication, and strengthened mutual trust and collective awareness. This demonstrated that the workshops do more than impart theoretical knowledge—they catalyse genuine internal transformations.

I also highlighted the role of Mr. Abdullah Al-Aboudi, director of the Rising Roots programme—Male Cohort. When he facilitated the Positive Masculinity workshop, it was not intended only for participants but also served as training for facilitators. Evidence of this was seen in one of the latest workshops organised by the High Atlas Foundation in Settat, where the facilitators themselves were programme alumni—Said Oufla and Abbas Azdoug—under the supervision of Abdullah Al-Aboudi. This continuity, from trainee to facilitator, reflects the programme's successful approach and shows that its impact extends beyond the workshop, carried forward by those who believe in its mission.

The dean then asked about my plans after the residency. I confidently spoke about my nascent project, which aims to support NGOs and cooperatives through documentation, connecting them with funders, and marketing their products directly without intermediaries. When asked what I had personally gained from the program, I explained my transformation from a young man spending most of his time behind a computer as a software developer, focused more on machines than people, to someone capable of confidently communicating and defending his ideas before esteemed academics. The dean smiled and noted that my communication skills appeared excellent and that my personal development was highly evident—a brief comment, yet deeply motivating.

We then moved to the lecture hall, filled with students. I felt the weight of responsibility, as this was my first time documenting an event before such a large audience. Professor Afaf introduced the session, and Dr. Youssef Ben Meir spoke on sustainable development, participatory approaches, and the founding of his organisation with perseverance despite illness and challenges. While documenting with my camera, he surprised me by asking me to speak in front of the audience—a sudden exercise under pressure. Despite nervousness, I introduced myself and shared my programme experience, realising that true preparation involves readiness for the unexpected.

The most impactful segment was when students shared their dreams and projects. One student aspired to launch a traditional clothing brand; another believed ambition should extend beyond employment to personal ventures. When a student described financing and marketing challenges in her mother’s cooperative, I seized the opportunity to connect her with my professional network and suggested practical solutions via Abbas Azdouk, an expert in civil society, cooperatives, and national funding initiatives. I explained how my project could assist in marketing her mother’s cooperative products, making me realise the real value of collective awareness: opening doors for one another and turning words into actionable bridges. This also gave me my first direct opportunity to apply my project with an actual beneficiary.

Dr. Youssef Ben Meir concluded the workshop by sharing his personal journey of working on his music for over eighteen years without giving up, emphasising that dreams require endurance and persistence beyond time. He played one of his songs, “People of the World", which conveys solidarity among nations and the spirit of coexistence and peace. The hall transformed from an academic space into a lively human celebration; students engaged, smiled, applauded, and absorbed the lyrics with genuine emotion.

For me, this was not merely documentation. It was my first experience capturing spontaneous interaction in a university workshop: a poet performing his words while students celebrated the concept even before the melody. I moved my camera across faces, capturing expressions, hand gestures, sincere smiles, and Dr. Ben Meir’s visible passion. I realised that I was documenting not just an event but a collective energy and shared moment of belief. Balancing technical focus with emotional immersion while maintaining professionalism was a beautiful challenge. Those minutes reinforced that true documentation is capturing spirit before the image and feeling before the frame.

On the return journey to Marrakech, the argan trees seemed to bid us farewell, witnesses to a day full of lessons. This was more than a trip to Agadir; it was a journey toward a more mature version of myself. I learned that documentation is not only about photos and videos but also about capturing transformation, courage, and the moments when we take an extra step toward growth. It was a profoundly professional and human day, leaving me with the certainty that every opportunity, no matter how small, can be a genuine turning point in one’s path.