Tiznit Participants in front of Somerville CIty Hall with Mayor Curtatone

The University of the Middle East Project is proud to announce the successful implementation of the second phase of the Community-Based Partnership for Employment (CPE) program between the communities of Somerville, MA and Tiznit, Morocco. This unique program created an opportunity for individuals to bond and develop friendships in an intense two-way exchange on two continents over three weeks. The reciprocal nature of the program, with both communities taking a turn hosting a delegation, set up what one participant called, "a hospitality war", as each group was shown a profound amount of sincere hospitality from the receiving hosts.

The potential effects of this hospitality and partnership formation are far reaching. Our hope is that the deep bonds created this past month will generate momentum into the future and unite not only the individuals directly participating, but also create a ripple effect forging partnerships for years to come. It’s an exciting time here at UME and we would like to share with you some highlights from phase two of our Community Based Partnership for Employment program.

The CPE is an ambitious dual exchange program designed to link the communities of Somerville, MA and Tiznit, Morocco with the aim of developing avenues of collaboration and partnerships that benefit youth development and employment in both communities. The CPE program is a continuation of the Sister City relationship between the two cities first established in December, 2009.
Between April 28-May 4, 19 Tiznit residents and employees traveled to Somerville to develop the relationships created in the first phase of the program. The main aim was to further collaborate with their professional counterparts in each respective country with the focus of youth development, employment, and the cultivation of 21st century job skills.

Lee Staples, a participant in the first phase in Tiznit, hosted a workshop at Boston
University where strategies in social change were discussed.

The CPE program also received significant media coverage including an article in the Boston Globe and another in the Somerville Journal.

Our participants were taken to various site visits depending on their profession. The CPE group split between an education group and a combined government, city planning, public health group. Each group met the professionals in their area of expertise through meetings, workshops, and site visits.



Participant and filmmaker, Said Belli, posing for a picture during a tour of the MIT campus.

For one week, Tiznit educators, politicians, social workers, artists and bussinessmen were hosted by the community of Somerville to create connections in a time where relationship building is the key to creating a thriving global community.

Tiznit educators attending a workshop with Teen Empowerment, a local NGO
that seeks to empower youth to bring positive social change at the grassroots level.

The delegation was taken on tours of the premier institutions in the Boston area. We were further supported with graduates from the universities that were affiliated through the first phase of the program or through UME friends.


Mayor Joe Curtatone and President Ouammou addressing the delegation about the
importance of sister city relationships at this point in history.

Massachusetts State representative Denise Provost for the 27th Middlesex District hosted the delegation at the State House and continued to build the relationship between Tiznit and Somerville on a governmental level.


The delegation touring the Massachusetts State House with Rep. Provost

UME is proud of the work done by both communities through the CPE program. We hope that the partnerships created through the programmed activities will soon blossom and further unite the two groups. The topics of youth development, employment, and the cultivation of 21st century skills were both explored in hands on interactive exposure but also discussed through dialogue and workshop settings.


President Hala Taweel, UME staff and Tiznit Participants at the Boston Public Gardens

We were lucky to work with individuals that created excitement around forging partnerships and further developing this sister city relationship. The hospitality and warmth shown by each side only made the goals of the program easier to achieve.

Artists from the delegation displayed their work at Brickbottom Gallery and the participating artists from the Somerville delegation hosted a potluck dinner celebrating the partnerships developed over the last month.

The CPE program concluded with a Cross Cultural Celebration of Communities at the Brickbottom Artists Gallery that included over 130 guests and featured music by Mike Rivard on Sintir (who went to Tiznit in 2009)and Little Bang. This gathering also previewed an upcoming gallery opening of Tiznit artists this September. Stay tuned for an invitation to this exciting event.


President Ouammou and Tiznit participants at the UME office

Many thanks to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the US State Department, the City of Somerville, the City of Tiznit, the Regional Council of Souss Massa Daraa and the Moroccan American Cultural Center for their sponsorships.

Special thanks to Brahim, Samira, Omar, Idriss from Tiznit and Ahmed and all the Association of Moroccan Alumni members who made this all possible!

Sincerely,
Ray Matsumiya
Executive Director