American Friendship Foundation ­ Morocco

The American Friendship Foundation (AFF) is pleased to begin a partnership with a Moroccan humanitarian aid organization that is bringing hope to disabled children in Southern Morocco.

Morocco is located in Northern Africa, across the Mediterranean Sea from Spain and bordering Algeria and Mauritania. Despite recent medical improvement, the lack of primary medical facilities results in significant child mortality, injury and physical disabilities for children during or after birth.

Thousands of these disabled children have Cerebral Palsy. Cerebral Palsy describes a group of disorders that affect muscle movement control. Cerebral Palsy results from injuries to the childıs brain during birth, from a brain infection (bacterial meningitis, viral encephalitis) or from a head injury.

Many of these children come from the poorest segment of the population and have limited access to competent medical care. Neglected by society and even by their families these children face a life of begging in front of their homes. Early intervention in the form of physical therapy can greatly improve the lives of these children, helping them to develop muscle movement, strength and motor skills in limbs that would otherwise atrophy. AFF desire is to help these families dealing with their childıs disability.

Moroccan Children's Physical Therapy Clinic

AFF strategy is to sponsor a community clinic providing physical therapy, family training and support for these children and families. We have developed the plan for this physical therapy clinic based upon the success achieved at seven other clinics running in other parts of Morocco. This new community clinic will allow us to provide individualized physical therapy sessions three times per week for each child.

An integral part of the program is for the family to be educated on Cerebral Palsy. A family caregiver is required to attend all of the sessions, learn the basic exercises, and continue therapy at home. The clinic will also be providing employment for at least four Moroccan physical therapists in a country where unemployment rates are high. An important component of this project is to work alongside a Moroccan association of handicapped people to assist their efforts in helping the Moroccan people.

This type of physical therapy has proven to be effective in helping these children, and this type of Cerebral Palsy Clinic has shown that it can support operating costs within three to five years. However, we need financial support to be established. AFF will start in one community and then expand into other communities as financial resources and trained workers allow.

Your gift to AFF can help transform the lives and futures of the neglected children who suffer from Cerebral Palsy in Morocco. Today AFF is seeking partners to cover the costs of starting the physical therapy clinic ($13,500) and two years of operating costs ($26,000).

Support Options

• $1,000 will pay for the training of one Moroccan physical therapist,
• $250 will provide one-month rent for the clinic,
• $100 will provide therapy equipment for the clinic,
• $50 will help pay for art supplies and toys used in therapy.

The clinic has constant need of funds to purchase children's wheelchairs and walkers.