Interview with Najat M'jid, president of Moroccan NGO Bayti
2006-01-18
Dr. Najat M'Jid is a paediatrician and founder of Moroccan association Bayti. She created the association to help the situation of street children in her country.
 [File] M'Jid |
Magharebia: What are the main objectives of Bayti?
Najat M'Jid: The Bayti (My Home) association started ten years ago to work in the areas of family reintegration for street children, child labourers, child victims of cruelty, abandoned children, juvenile delinquents, and sexually exploited children.
Magharebia: How did your work as a paediatrician lead you to create this association?
M'Jid: First of all, I love children. On returning to Morocco after my studies in France, I was walking one day through the streets of Casablanca and I saw a kid who seemed to have spent several days on the streets. I asked him what he was doing there, and was shocked when he replied that he lived on the streets. I did not think that went on in Morocco. A lot of anger welled up inside me and I realised the situation needed to be put right.
Magharebia: Why Casablanca?
M'Jid: We started in Casablanca because it is the city that harbours the most street children. Our headquarters are in Casablanca, but we now have centres in Meknes and Essaouira as well.
Magharebia: What are Bayti's priorities in dealing with these street children?
M'Jid: Our priority is to reintegrate them into families, schools or work. The association has a home and apartments for these children as well as several activities and workshops.
Magharebia: What are the basic causes of the phenomenon of street children in Morocco?
M'Jid: The basic cause is the family. The majority of these children come from poor and/or problem families. We realised that the role of the family in providing protection is almost nonexistent because the top priority is survival.
Magharebia: What draws these children to the streets?
M'Jid: The street offers a lot of freedom to these young people. Children who have been deprived of everything find each other in the streets. This gives them a strong feeling of solidarity and belonging to a family.
Magharebia: What are the dangers confronted by street children?
all of these children become dependent upon drugs
M'Jid: Firstly, all of these children become dependent upon drugs. Violence is another danger which preys upon these children every day. There is also the problem of sexually transmitted disease, tuberculosis and skin problems. But, there are also behavioural problems.
Magharebia: How does Bayti get involved in responding to this problem?
M'Jid: The strategic approach and methodology adopted for implementing Bayti's activities is divided into four stages and a parallel activity:
First stage: Street-based contact and overall analysis of the situation (key stage for the whole integration process).
Second stage: Rehabilitation, socialisation: skills building, guidance, psychosocial approach, referral.
Third stage: Genuine social integration, empowerment of the young person.
Fourth stage: Follow-up: consolidation of the integration and prevention of any setbacks
Parallel activity: Programme aimed at families through stages 1 to 4.
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سارة الزموري Posted 2006-10-08
Thank you for this initiative! I hope we can achieve cooperation among us as Moroccans and work towards building our society. I am in fact considering setting up an association in Tetouan to support as many social disintegration victims as possible.
fatima zahra Posted 2006-11-15
Thank you for this intitiative. Hope you use this forum to communicate with other readers!
دينا العلمى Posted 2006-11-19
A wonderful subject. Best wishes.
اشين ابراهيم Posted 2006-12-15
Thank you for this good initiative and I wish we work together for a better future, God Willing!
نعيمة Posted 2006-12-24
Thank you for your attention to this subject. We ask God to help us to achieve this human work collectively. May the Lord help you!
laila Posted 2007-01-30
Hello! I am a beneficiary of this organization and I am 19 year old. I want to personally thank the president for all the initiatives that she is taking as well as the educational professionals especially the former director Hamid Lazar. Thanks
عادل Posted 2007-02-05
Peace be upon you! I am a student from Ibn Rochd High School. Can I have Bayti's address in Rabat? Thanks
نعيمة Posted 2007-02-11
Peace be upon you! This is a uniquely important subject but unfortunately only a small portion of the people cares about it. I wish from whoever interested to support it in any way by visiting the organization to learn more clearly because this represent the major problem in Morocco. Thank you
سعاد العطاري Posted 2007-02-11
Peace by upon you! Thanks to Bayti for its huge efforts. thanks
نانا و نحول Posted 2007-02-14
Nice and hypocrite association!
عزيز بشرئ Posted 2007-02-14
I am the branch manager of the Moroccan Association for Education and Innovation founded on 7-26-2006. we work in combating illiteracy. We would like to know you more!
hajar Posted 2007-02-20
I feel sorry for kids and love them. They are like us all, but have no rights.
عادل Posted 2007-02-22
I would like you to give me information about the office of Bayti if you don't mind
khalid labriki Posted 2007-03-09
Hello! I would like to warmly thank Ms. Najat Majid for her great effort that she is making to promote Bayti! Thanks
اسماء Posted 2007-03-10
I liked the idea
Asmaa Posted 2007-03-11
Salam thanks a lot for all those information they will be useful for my research I wish you success incha2alah bye
imane chouitar Posted 2007-03-12
I would like to know please what are the real resources of Bayti (human, financial, material) and its partnerships et its influence ; who are the financial supports of Bayti ? and what is its influence...Thanks
karim fatima Posted 2007-03-19
Salamou Alaikoum, I would like to thank Mrs Najat for all her efforts for this foundation and I want to ask her how can I contribute to this association. Salam.
فدوى Posted 2007-03-24
This initiative delighted me as Morocco is badly in need of that, namely now. It's better to present more practical solutions than moral, I hope that when I search next time about the phenomenon, I'd find out that it has decreased, thank you.
nadia abdessamad Posted 2007-04-11
I want some information about bayti
بنعلة مونية Posted 2007-04-13
I hope that you provide me information about your office in Meknès as I'm interested in your association
سارة Posted 2007-04-13
I like this research thanks
اسماء Posted 2007-05-04
Thank you for this good initiative, I hope that you present us the latest problems so that we're fully informed and try to give all our support for the progress of this association, other associations can be set up in order to put an end to the problems in Moroccan society in particular
nani Posted 2007-06-07
I think Bayti is doing good work.
Alaoui Hassan Posted 2007-06-18
Thanks alot Ms Najat M'jid for your being a philantropist, but whatever you do is just so little.The government's hand is stained with blood. It is their own role and duty to care for Morrocan street children.Alas,they care only for their own children! They deserve a kick on the ass!!!! The way to freedom and democracy in Morocco is so long!!! what would you expect from a people of which fifty prcent of the population is illiterate?
soukaina aithamout Posted 2007-07-10
This is an excellent article. I would also like to build hope for homeless children. Thank you.
........... Posted 2007-09-15
Salam alaikoum, I ask the person in charge of the program to review the papers of the association, namely the financial accounts. Thank you.
zineb ait salem Posted 2007-09-15
I'm Zainab from Guelmim, I'm looking for the phone number of the association in Essaouira. I want to inquire about two girls who were with me in the Summer camp in EL Jadida. Thank you.
خديجة Posted 2007-10-18
A warm greeting to all the visitors of the site of Bayti, I want the address of Bayti.
najia Posted 2007-11-12
I am so happy that there are Moroccans who are helping homeless children. I would also like to thank Majid, the woman from Bayti.
imane el idrissi Posted 2007-11-19
thanks a lot for all those information . I am so happy that there are Moroccans who are helping homeless children. I think Bayti is doing good work.
سمية البقالي Posted 2007-12-03
What's the name of the march of this association?
خالد من تارودانت Posted 2007-12-17
In recent days I was acquainted with an association in my town. It is specialized in street children. Honestly I was impressed by it “Ahly Association” (My family). So therefore, I’m asking if it’s possible for Mrs Mjid to provide any assistance for them in training or expertise and why not a joint project or a partnership. I hope that message reaches Bayti association knowing that I’m not a member of the association. thank you.
كوثر Posted 2007-12-17
I'm Kaoutar from the town of Settat. I have a problem but I don't want how to contact your association as I need them badly. Please send me your address to my hotmail address. I hope that the respectable woman and president of the association to help me.
KARIMA Posted 2007-12-23
Greetings! This is the first time I have contacted your association. I wish you more positive results that will benefit our society above all. I am taking training classes in one of the regional teacher schools. Could you explain a specific case that you handled? Thanks.
Hannah ait ahmed Posted 2008-01-03
I am an english woman married to a moroccan man. We live in Marrakech. I too am concerned about the many children I see on the streets sniffing glue. I would like to help start something in Marrakech to help and I am wondering if Bayti, or anyone interested might get in touch with me? I am a qualified English teacher, floral designer and artist with skills such as having brought up my own children and worked in my community with different social organizations. Best wishes to all who work at Bayti. Hannah.
حمزة Posted 2008-01-16
Hamza from the city of Khouribga, I'm looking for a phone number and want to join Bayti association as I live in difficult conditions. I want the address of this association. Thank you.
hamza rakib Posted 2008-01-16
I'm Hamza from the city of Khouribga. I'm 14. I study in the first year of the secondary education. I have a serious problem at home, my father doesn't give us our rights towards him. I don't know how to reach your association. Please send me your address to my msn box because I need you badly. I hope that the respectable lady and president of the association will help me as soon as possible.
رابح Posted 2008-02-07
This is a pioneering initiative in Morocco, which can reduce the harsh social cases and use them for better training, knowing that the deprived child in general has a better disposition to study and learn skills in order to confirm his existence. It’s better to use these motivations for a better training in a studied way. May God grant you success for the good of the nation and the people. I wish a good future for these kids and a prosperous future for Morocco and the Great Arab Maghreb in particular…An Algerian.
مريم البقولي Posted 2008-02-09
I liked the site.
المردادي عبد الكريم Posted 2008-02-18
My name is Merdadi Abdelkarim. I am an active member of an association from Italy. We want to carry out some projects in this field but we don’t have the information we need about the number of these children and the associations concerned about this category of our society. We also don't know their needs. Please inform us in this regard as soon as possible. Thanks to everyone concerned for our dear nation and dear citizens.
هديل Posted 2008-02-25
Thank you for this great forum.
jamal Posted 2008-03-04
Thank you so much.
للا خدوج Posted 2008-04-07
I am an active member of a new association in Medieq wilaya in Fnideq. We need an association for children. I suggest that you set up a branch in the town of Fnideq, which hosts a large number of street children, especially because this town is a crossing area between Europe and Africa.
Belghit Posted 2008-07-22
My name is Mohammed Amine. I am a 20-year-old university student. Personally, I am more into music, sports and hanging out. I am not interested in what is going on with Morocco’s organizations, with young people’s problems, with their necessities and with their needs. But, with Miss Najat M’jid going on television yet again with her charisma, her story and her career, I was captivated and watched till the end of the programme. What is more, I went searching for NGOs in Morocco, their interests and their vocations. I plan on going further into this field and following the path of this lady, who is a militant fighter, and, of course, of those who are also participating everywhere in the country’s development and progress. Keep up the good work, Miss M’jid!
حنين لطيفة Posted 2008-10-10
Peace of God be upon you. I would like to thank Mrs Najat for her efforts in caring for this institute. I would like to ask her if you can build a branch of your institute in Souk Larbaa Gharb in the province of Kenitra. Thank you very much. Mrs Hanine Latifa, an association member.
sanaa Posted 6 days ago
hay every body i thank for Mrs Najat for this information i need it in my report.thank you so much and i wish you successful & nice continuation to associantion BAYTI. see you jazaki allaho khayran pr que vous avez fait sur les pauvres enfants...
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