Youssef, a reliable and savvy counterpart

Youssef, for my first five or six months of service, was simply one of the young men who hung out at the youth center, or dar chebab, regularly. At that time, I was still learning who was who and what their roles were as I slowly but surely integrated. When it came time to invite a counterpart to accompany me to the Project Design & Management workshop hosted by Peace Corps, the local youth I talked to advised that I take Youssef, currently the president of the Hope Association for Culture & Sports. "He’s reliable, available, and savvy," they said. A year and a half later, I feel so fortunate to have been pointed in his direction.

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Our primary project together was Creating Leaders in the Mountains & Beyond (CLIMB), a dynamic outdoor leadership program that benefited at least 40 Moroccan youth from two Peace Corps sites and has been a major part of our work for the past 10 months. Aside from CLIMB, Youssef has reliably helped me in nearly every aspect of my service and life here in Morocco. From bargaining for my life-changing washing machine and welcoming my mom and aunt during their week-long trip to Morocco to helping me cope with security incidents, literally pulling me up Mount Toubkal, and being there for everyday dar chebab life, he has been an ideal counterpart and a wonderful friend--not only to me, but to other PCVs and PCTs as well. As my service comes to a close all too soon, I’m feeling extremely grateful to him and to countless others who have made my time in this place--my second home--impactful, happy, and unforgettable.