What's Not Included?
In your placement fee Travel costs are not included, such as flights to and from and Morocco and on the ground travel, like getting to and from the daily projects. However, we tend to share transport and it will normally cost you between 50p to £1 for the majority of the projects in and around Marrakesh. Airport transfer from the airport (Marrakesh) to the riad is not included in the placement fee.
Airport Transfer: Airport transfer from Marrakesh Airport to our riad is not included in your placement fee; this journey should take around 15-20 minutes. Transfer back to your departure date can be arranged by our team, Airport transfer will be arranged for you unless we're notified otherwise this is payable locally to the driver/transfer company. This should cost between £5 - £10.
Return flights to Morocco from the UK are very inexpensive and prices for summer 2017 vary from around a very cheap £75 to a maximum of around £250. Websites such as Sky Scanner can be really useful in helping you find the cheapest tickets available for your desired dates. Please make sure to check the 2017 spaces table here before booking your flights to check that the dates you would like to come are available. If you have any questions or you are unsure of anything, please feel free to contact us at any time.
Food and Drink are not included in your placement fee. Bottled water may be a requirement for tap water could potentially make you ill or give you an upset stomach. Bottled water is widely available and supermarkets are within walking distance of the riad. Food may also be bought here if you plan to eat at home; cooking facilities in the volunteer’s house are available. Eating out in Morocco is very cheap compared to the UK; a reasonably priced meal can cost you around £2-£5.
Accommodation
Your accommodation will be a shared house with all the other volunteers. The layout is dorm style, with shared bathrooms and kitchens. Bedding and sheets are provided, so you don't need to worry about bringing your own. If traveling with a friend or group of friends you will be roomed together (please let us know if this is the case so we can do our best to arrange this). The riad is located right in the heart of Marrakesh, so everything you need will be within walking distance, including transport to projects in rural areas of Marrakesh. Fridge space and cooking facilities will be available for anyone who wants to cook at home and to store all those bottles of water. We advise that you label your own food and water bottles, as they may go missing or be mistakenly taken by others in the house. This house is dedicated to our volunteers, and volunteers only, so this is a great opportunity to socialise with others and make new friends.
Typical Weekday
Scheduled projects run five days a week, Monday to Friday, normally with two to three projects lasting three to six hours daily, leaving weekends and some evenings for you to explore Marrakesh and the rest of Morocco. However, you may have more time during the week for excursions, depending on how long you stay with us and which projects you choose to do during the week. Spaces on some projects will be limited, so we will hold meetings throughout the week and you can secure a place on your preferred projects. Eating out in Morocco is very cheap and staying without food should not be an issue; you can choose to dine out in the many restaurants and food stalls in Marrakesh, or eat at home in the riad (there are modern supermarkets within easy walking distance). In the evenings you're free to do whatever you want; you could choose to chill at the accommodation, perhaps play cards, watch a movie or explore the diverse nightlife Marrakesh has to offer.
Arriving in Morocco
Upon arrival in Marrakesh, a member of our team will be waiting in arrivals with a sign with your name on it. Our privately hired shuttle will take you straight to the volunteer’s house where all the other volunteers like you are housed. You'll have some time to unpack and also meet your fellow volunteers. If your flight arrives in the morning you can either go on to take part in the afternoon's project or use the remainder of the day to settle in and unpack. As there will be new volunteers arriving every day a welcome briefing will be held daily, where you'll be given information about the house and the area you are in, along with other useful tips. If you choose not use our airport transfer service, you can either make your own way to the riad using the information we provide you with, or you can meet a member of the team at Cafe de France, situated on the main square in Marrakesh (Place Jemaa El Fna). Please make sure to have a working telephone on arrival to make sure the meet-and-greet goes smoothly. You may request a Moroccan Sim before arriving in Morocco; this will be given to you once you arrive at the riad.
2017 Space and Fees
Über Volunteers 2017 will be running from the 11th June 2017 to the 14th August 2017. 2017 will be a year where we will be running the placements only during the summer months and will be exclusively for students, graduates and gap year travelers. Please check the fees table on the Application Process page to check what date you need to start your placement by, depending on the duration of stay you desire.
What's Included?
In your placement fee, all accommodation is Included (further information about the accommodation can be found below).
Support Team: Organisation of your placement and projects will be conducted by previous volunteers in Morocco, who have now become coordinators. They will be your main point of contact should you need help with anything or encounter any problems.
Donation Included in your placement fee is a £20 donation, which will be used to buy equipment and resources that the associations and charities we work with really need to continue providing help to those who are vulnerable throughout the year. Updates on progress and how we use this money will be given via our social media channels throughout the year. Resources needed for the individual projects will be provided, however, you are welcome to bring any extras that you think the kids will enjoy.