Protecting cultural heritage in Tangier and Siwa

Thanks to the EU program Euromed Heritage IV, the city of Tangier and the oasis of Siwa are being given the chance to preserve and enhance their centennial cultural specificities.

Nadia Ben Sellam - Rabat, Al-Hayat

Known as gateways to the African continent, the distant cities of Siwa and Tangier are tied together with a EU-funded project entitled “Siwa and Tangier: cultural heritage for a better life”. While dozens of Moroccan children are rediscovering their cities thanks to a new sustainable development approach, other initiatives are taken to enhance local neighborhoods. Within Euromed Heritage IV Programme, the project is working on achieving other cultural-related objectives.

The first beneficiaries of the project are the youngsters, to whom is delegated the responsibility of promoting better knowledge and understanding of the local cultural asset. In this spirit, a pedagogical initiative called “a trip through the medina” was organized in Tangier (Morocco) on March and will last until June 2010.

A Trip through the Medina
Conceived for a three-year period and with a total budget of 951,463 Euros, “Siwa and Tangier: cultural heritage for a better life” is carried out by the Italian NGO COSPE, in partnership with Al Boughaz association (Tangier) and an Egyptian association in Siwa. This pedagogical initiative is part of a series of actions enclosed in this project. The project’s objectives are in line with the ambitions of Tangier city, known as the gateway to the African continent and the nearest point to Europe, a city where the local cultural heritage needs to be protected and enhanced; especially that it is undergoing rapid urban development since 2002.

The pedagogical initiative entitled “a trip through the medina” targets 25 schoolchildren from 5 primary schools located in the old quarter of Tangier. They are being given the opportunity to rediscover the rich heritage of the old city, its ramparts, and its traditional houses as well as all the myths about Noah’s ark, Hercules or Ibn Batuta, among other historical figures linked to the city. The aim is to allow them to take a fresh look at their own city, their identity and local cultural heritage. Pupils are also involved in a weekly course, a technical workshop and a quiz game specially conceived on the history of the Medina, its architecture and traditions, including the inhabitants’ life and stories.

A commitment to al-Medina
“I’m committed to my Medina” is a 4-month initiative addressed to the inhabitants of the five areas of Tangiers. A caravan is touring the streets of the medina from April 29 to May 27, inviting the residents to enhance the urban spaces where they live and develop their daily activities. A follow up from “neighborhood groups” from the medina will present ideas for the embellishment and planning of urban spaces.

Ilaria Conti, COSPE coordinator in Tangier notes that the idea of “neighborhood groups” interested the inhabitants of the medina, since it works on urban rehabilitation, instead of neglecting the medina, emigrating from it and leaving it to foreigners. She adds that the preservation of the old city is a long process but has positive and sustainable effects.

Need for more
Ilaria stresses as well on the importance of the monitoring center, considered as the most complicated part in the project. Some tend to think that it should be part of the “Medina safeguard plan”. Others prefer that it becomes a research center, or a center for development… Ilaria expects that a common view concerning this initiative will be reached soon.

Other initiatives are also included in the framework of the project, precisely a summer school to inform about “tangible heritage”, as well as two forums foreseen for the year 2011, in collaboration with actors in the field of sustainable tourism. These forums will discuss the modalities of cooperation and development in the medina, in addition to workshops about the means of enhancing cultural tourism, and developing traditional industries performed by women and youth.

In summary, through mutual understanding and cooperation, Euromed heritage IV (2008-2012) aims at encouraging people to valorize and get involved in their local heritage, in an effort to safeguard it and achieve better social development.

Refer to the project fact sheet: Euromed Heritage 4 (Morocco)