Salaam! My name is Veronica, the Program Manager for all our internships in Morocco. I recently returned from visiting our incredible programs there, and I’m very excited to share this incredible trip with you. Morocco had always been at the top of my list of places to visit, so I was thrilled to have this opportunity.
Explore Morocco with me
Welcome to Morocco!
Hosted in Rabat, its capital city, Intern Abroad HQ offers flexible and affordable internships in Morocco! Where the African and European continents meet, you’ll find a destination that offers the best of both worlds. International interns experience a vibrant mix of cultural influences while gaining relevant career experience and making an impact. Interns in Morocco can choose a minimum duration of 4 weeks, up to 24 weeks, with start dates available year-round. The Program Fee includes arranging your airport pick up, accommodation, daily breakfast and dinner, and providing 24/7 in-country support.
As the Intern Abroad HQ Program Manager for internships in Morocco, being in Morocco to visit our programs allowed me to experience what our interns experience when they do one of our internships there: I met our local team, visited the organizations that host our interns, and stayed in one of the two riads where they are accommodated.
As is the case with many of our interns, my flight to Morocco landed in Casablanca instead of Rabat. The train station is adjacent to the airport, so it was a straightforward and very inexpensive process to walk there and purchase a train ticket to Rabat. The cost was around US$15 - $20. The train runs very frequently, and it takes only 1 hour and 20 minutes to get there. Once I got off the train at Rabat Ville Train Station, Ali from our local team was there to pick me up and take me to my accommodation.
What do people love about Morocco?
Morocco is simply an amazing place to visit! With its strong European influence and history, the country shares Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines with both Spain and France.
The city of Rabat, where our internships are based, is home to historic sites that include and are inspired by a combination of cultures. During your internship, there are opportunities to take French and/or Arabic language lessons, visit ancient sites, exotic gardens, or travel to enjoy beautiful coastal resorts.
Interns in Rabat can also enjoy shopping districts, cinema and theaters, restaurants and vibrant nightlife. Immerse yourself in the charm of its old Medina, enjoy a lovely afternoon at one of the cafes on the promenade along the Bou Regreg River, or a relaxing day at the beach.
There is plenty to offer - all interns need is a sense of adventure!
Internship Accommodation & Meals
The riad accommodation, where interns stay, is located in the Rabat medina, which is the old, walled town of the city. Cars are not allowed in the medina, but the riad is only two blocks away from the entrance. The majority of interns can expect their placements to be within walking distance - about 10 or 20 minute’s walk. In some cases, a commute might be necessary (to either the internship placement or to the central office), and the travel time is usually between 15-20 minutes. There are ample public transportation options to utilize, such as buses and taxis, which are inexpensive.
Since it was the morning when I arrived, and all our internships in Morocco include daily breakfast and dinner, a delicious traditional Moroccan breakfast was waiting for me. I had my first taste of mint tea, and not being a big tea drinker, it was incredibly tasty. I ended up choosing this drink over coffee every morning I was there, which is a big statement coming from a Colombian with coffee running through her veins.
The rest of the breakfast consisted of fruit, yogurt, and a Moroccan flatbread called Msemmen, which I found to be similar to naan bread. This is a very standard breakfast in the country, and you can expect to get a variation of this most days. Tap water is not drinkable anywhere in Morocco, so I made sure I always had bottled water with me, even for brushing my teeth.
The riad was very clean and comfortable, and very conveniently located close to the souk (market), river, and the local team’s office. In order to keep my room as clean as possible, I avoided keeping food there, as this would attract unwanted ants. The riads are all shared between genders, but the rooms are same-gender only.
Dinner is served around 7pm, and every night the three interns who were there at the same time as me would gather at the dining table, share stories about their day, and enjoy some traditional food.
Internship Placements
On my first full day in Rabat, I visited an NGO that works very closely with the United Nations in order to promote women rights in Morocco. They do very important advocacy work in the communities, to ensure Moroccan women’s rights are being respected.
We then went to another NGO that focuses on Social and Solidarity Economy, which are economic activities that prioritize social motives over profits. I was incredibly inspired by the work they do helping women conceptualize a business plan, produce their goods, price them, and finally market them. Three of our interns, who worked here a few months prior, had helped develop a very impressive outreach campaign in order to promote these women’s products.
If you have always dreamed of making a tangible difference in the lives of others, I cannot recommend our NGO Human Rights internships in Morocco enough! You will see how your work impacts other people, and helps protect their rights or improve their quality of life.
The next day was all about our popular Medical and Human Biology & Med Lab internships. We visited some of the clinics that host our interns, and two of the labs. The facilities were all incredibly modern and well maintained, and very easily accessible by taxi from the medina. The blue taxis there are so affordable that a standard 15-minute ride costs approximately US$5 - $7, and you can catch one from anywhere in the city.
I also had a lot of fun visiting one of our Journalism & Media internship placements. It was evident how seriously they take the job of reporting the news in a professional and unbiased manner, and ensuring our interns feel included and are given meaningful work. They really make an effort to accommodate interns in the area they want to experience most, so I had the chance to see interns working in the digital media and editing departments, and even one who was out interviewing a famous athlete!
A common thread I found among these placements was the fact that they really want and expect interns to have a lot of initiative. If you are planning on interning in Morocco, this is one of my main takeaways, so please don’t be afraid to speak up, think creatively, and show how much you wish to grow during your experience. This will certainly make you stand out among the crowd!
I don’t speak French or Arabic - can I still do an internship?
Of course! Most internship opportunities in Morocco are geared towards English language speakers. The only expectation is that our Microfinance internship requires interns to confidently speak French at an intermediate to advanced level.
It’s natural to expect that a language barrier can still be encountered to a certain extent. This is part of cultural immersion and the learning experience. While not mandatory, we encourage all interns to take advantage of Arabic or French language lessons during the program. These can be taken in conjunction with your chosen internship. They are fun, social, and provide enriching cultural insight.
What attributes are important for interns in Rabat?
We recommend that interns in Rabat are open, curious, adaptable, and ready to expect the unexpected! The culture in Morocco is likely different from what you’re used to. Therefore, we encourage international interns to come prepared to learn and embrace a unique cultural immersion. Try new foods, listen to new music, learn new words, and explore new perspectives.
It is also highly encouraged by most companies in Morocco that interns take initiative and are proactive in their work, politely requesting more tasks when they feel like they are ready to take on a larger workload.
If you travel with an open mind and willingness to learn new things from others, you will be all set for one of the most incredible adventures. The best way to make an impact is to ask yourself what specific skills and talents you can offer, and apply these here in Morocco!
The City of Rabat
My first impression of the city is how clean and light it looks. Compared to other cities in Morocco like Marrakesh, I found Rabat to be much more organized and less overwhelming.
I was surprised by everything there is to do there! On my first day there, the weather was very pleasant (a comfortable 80°F or 27°C), so in the evening I decided to explore the city by myself. I had a walk through the markets, which span for at least ten blocks in the medina. There I found all sorts of products: from Moroccan pastries and spices, to clothes, teapots and tagines (a traditional Moroccan pot made of clay, where many different dishes are cooked). You can easily spend a whole afternoon in the markets, and definitely take some time to walk through them, but there is so much more to explore!
At the end of the street is a little entryway that will take you straight to the Bou Regreg river, which divides Rabat and the neighboring city of Salé. The river is an incredibly lively area of the city: children play around in ride-on toys, and people sit in the cafés on the promenade and enjoy the weather. Walking to that promenade, sitting at a quiet cafe with my book and enjoying an indulgent nutella crepe quickly became my favorite way to spend my evenings in Rabat.
One of my favorite places was the Kasbah of the Udayas, which is only a 5-minute walk from the riad! This is a stunning citadel, with charming white and blue houses, almost reminiscent of Santorini, and encased by a wall and gate constructed in the 12th century. It also offers one of the best views of the city, the river, and the sea.
Another must-see is the Hassan Tower Fortress Square. It is a beautiful open plaza, with a mosque dating back to the 12th century and a mausoleum: the perfect place to spend a relaxing evening!
Compared to other major cities, I found Rabat to be very inexpensive: I never spent more than US$6 -$8 for my lunches, and you will find great bargains at the markets. However, don’t be afraid to bargain, as prices can be marked up to 20% higher than the original price in order to have some wiggle room to negotiate. This certainly did not come easily to me, but after walking around for a while, I realized that I am basically expected to do so.
Something I loved is how easy it is to get from Rabat to other incredible places in Morocco. The trains are very affordable and run frequently. As mentioned before, a trip to Casablanca will cost you around US$15 - $20 each way and takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes. If you wish to visit Marrakesh, a one-way trip costs approximately US$50 and takes 4 hours. Other easily reachable cities from Rabat include Chefchaouen, Tangier, Fez and Essaouira, each providing their own unique experiences and Moroccan charm.
In regard to communication, Arabic is the official language of Morocco, but most Moroccans also speak French. My French is very rudimentary, so I typically relied on English and Google Translate, and was able to communicate without encountering any issues.
Safety & Security
As mentioned above, I really enjoyed going for long walks in the city every day, and thankfully never felt unsafe, even when the markets could at times be a little overwhelming and full of people. I ensured I followed basic safety guidelines and precautions, and remained vigilant of my personal belongings at all times. I also always dressed modestly in order to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
In fact, according to the Peace Index report, Morocco actually ranks higher than countries such as France, the United States, Brazil, Panama, and China. The crime rate is also ranked lower than that of the UK, the US, New Zealand, Belgium, and Sweden. Lastly, the Global Terrorism Index ranks Morocco with a terrorism influence score of ZERO! This is reported as even lower than countries like Iceland, and indicates a minimal risk level, with no incidents recorded in recent years.
My final insights and recommendations!
Before I knew it, it was time to leave Morocco. I am convinced this country has it all when it comes to a great internship experience: impressive host organizations, interesting sights, culture, and history, and if you truly have an open mind and a disposition to learn as much as possible, you are certain to have an unforgettable and enriching time in this wonderful country.
It can be a pretty big and scary step to travel to a different country. However, if you are ready to embrace a new culture and willing to immerse yourself wholeheartedly, it will be one of the most valuable and life-changing opportunities for you. Try not to be afraid to speak in French or Arabic, just give it a whirl, and have confidence in yourself! You will also be surprised to discover that language may not be as big a barrier as you think.
Ready to get started with your own internship experience?
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