Integrating into a society requires a certain level of mastery of the language of the host country.
This is behind the conviction that prompted the “Papiers Pour Tous” (Legal Documents for All) Assocation, in partnership with the Moroccan Association for Creative Cultural Industries “MadNess,” to launch a campaign encouraging non-Arabic-speaking foreigners living in Morocco to learn the local Darija dialect.
Migrants, refugees and asylum seekers are the targets of this scheme which comes in the wake of the realization that almost the majority of non-Arabic-speaking foreigners, and more particularly migrants, settled in Morocco for several years, speak little Darija if at all.
All it confirmed is the fact that foreigners in transit do not seek to integrate into Moroccan society, according to a joint statement from the two associations.
Since the migratory phenomenon in Morocco began to become a reality, the dynamic of the defense of migrants, refugees and asylum seekers has focused on an approach, all in all legitimate, of claiming rights (to residence, work, education, health, free movement …) while overlooking the fact that foreigners also have duties towards their host country, in particular learning the national language, which is a decisive factor in the process of their inclusion in Moroccan society.
For these reasons, “Papiers Pour Tous” and “MadNess” believe that the time has come to promote the learning of Darija, encouring foreigners, non-Arabic speakers, to make this effort and to call on the authorities to assume their responsibilities and put in place the necessary policies and measures necessary to meet this challenge.
“Learning the Darija dialect will significantly contribute to improving communication between non-Arabic-speaking foreigners and Moroccan citizens in daily life, in the workplace … and reduce xenophobia, mistrust between communities and racial discrimination,” the joint statement posits.
To this end, “Papiers Pour Tous” has produced, in partnership with MadNess, an awareness tool that will be shared on social media.
In addition, to better explain and support its approach, “Papiers Pour Tous” will organize, on Friday December 18, 2020, a webinar dedicated to analyzing the role of Darija in the inclusion of foreigners in Moroccan society.
This will feature experts and researchers in the field of migration and sociology.
HA/fss/as/APA