UNESCO Learning City Awardee 2024Benguerir, Morocco
Since joining the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities in 2020, Benguerir has embraced a transformative approach to lifelong learning.
Guided by strategic pillars, the city focuses on mobilizing cross-sector partnerships, advancing modern learning technologies, and creating inclusive educational opportunities.
From basic to higher education, Benguerir has integrated culture, sports, and functional community spaces into its vision for sustainable development and citizen empowerment.
Guided by strategic pillars, the city focuses on mobilizing cross-sector partnerships, advancing modern learning technologies, and creating inclusive educational opportunities.
From basic to higher education, Benguerir has integrated culture, sports, and functional community spaces into its vision for sustainable development and citizen empowerment.
Ouardi Abdellatif Mayor of Benguerir
Mobilizing stakeholders for inclusive education
At the core of Benguerir’s learning city strategy is its commitment to stakeholder engagement. To ensure that learning initiatives are effective and sustainable, a steering committee chaired by the Governor of Rhamna province was established. This committee brings together representatives from the municipality, the national education delegation, the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), and other key institutions.
Regular meetings enable this diverse group of stakeholders to oversee the implementation of lifelong learning policies, establish monitoring systems, and adjust strategies based on outcomes.
Regular meetings enable this diverse group of stakeholders to oversee the implementation of lifelong learning policies, establish monitoring systems, and adjust strategies based on outcomes.
Creating community learning spaces
Benguerir has transformed public spaces into vibrant hubs for lifelong learning and community interaction. In collaboration with the Compass Association and the Rhamna province, the city has established multifunctional spaces, including a garden equipped with a library kiosk and an animation area.
These spaces foster intergenerational learning, encourage artistic expression, and promote a culture of reading among young people. By blending education with community-building, these initiatives strengthen social ties and empower citizens.
These spaces foster intergenerational learning, encourage artistic expression, and promote a culture of reading among young people. By blending education with community-building, these initiatives strengthen social ties and empower citizens.
Fostering sustainability through electric mobility
Benguerir is addressing climate change through innovative approaches to sustainable mobility. The POGO electric vehicle project has made a significant impact since its launch, providing environmentally friendly transportation options for the city’s residents.
Over two years, more than 15,000 people have utilized electric motorcycles, traveling 600,000 kilometres across 130,000 trips. This initiative has successfully reduced CO2 emissions by 90 tons, highlighting Benguerir’s commitment to green development.
Over two years, more than 15,000 people have utilized electric motorcycles, traveling 600,000 kilometres across 130,000 trips. This initiative has successfully reduced CO2 emissions by 90 tons, highlighting Benguerir’s commitment to green development.
Empowering Youth through capacity-building programmes
The Rhamna Youth Platform is central to Benguerir’s efforts to equip young people with the skills needed for personal and professional success. The platform offers three main programmes: a capacity-building programme for young graduates, one for project leaders, and a socio-cultural animation programme.
To date, these programmes have trained and supported over 1,000 young people, with contributions from 45 trainers and 41 mobilized organizations. Participants have benefited from over 600 training workshops and 250 boot camps, which focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, and creativity. These initiatives prepare Benguerir’s youth to actively contribute to the city’s social and economic growth.
To date, these programmes have trained and supported over 1,000 young people, with contributions from 45 trainers and 41 mobilized organizations. Participants have benefited from over 600 training workshops and 250 boot camps, which focus on leadership, entrepreneurship, and creativity. These initiatives prepare Benguerir’s youth to actively contribute to the city’s social and economic growth.
Educator in Benguerir
Reviving education through the Second-Chance School
Recognizing the challenges faced by school dropouts, Benguerir has established a Second-Chance School to offer educational and vocational opportunities. Three centres in the city provide reintegration programs for 359 students, led by 19 dedicated supervisors.
These programmes help learners gain professional qualifications in fields such as electricity, culinary arts, and sewing, enabling them to secure employment or become self-reliant entrepreneurs.
By focusing on equity and inclusion, this initiative empowers marginalized youth to re-enter the education system or workforce, fostering social mobility and lifelong learning.
These programmes help learners gain professional qualifications in fields such as electricity, culinary arts, and sewing, enabling them to secure employment or become self-reliant entrepreneurs.
By focusing on equity and inclusion, this initiative empowers marginalized youth to re-enter the education system or workforce, fostering social mobility and lifelong learning.
Learner from the Second-Chance School
Inclusive education for children with disabilities
Benguerir has taken significant strides in supporting children with disabilities, ensuring their inclusion in formal education.
In partnership with the commune of Benguerir and the province of Rhamna, a specialized centre caters to non-verbal children and those with learning difficulties.
This inclusive model has achieved a 100% integration rate for nonverbal children in state schools, where they learn alongside their peers.
By promoting equality and accessibility, Benguerir sets an example of how education systems can accommodate diverse learning needs.
In partnership with the commune of Benguerir and the province of Rhamna, a specialized centre caters to non-verbal children and those with learning difficulties.
This inclusive model has achieved a 100% integration rate for nonverbal children in state schools, where they learn alongside their peers.
By promoting equality and accessibility, Benguerir sets an example of how education systems can accommodate diverse learning needs.
Promoting learning through culture and sports
Cultural and sporting events are at the heart of Benguerir’s efforts to inspire lifelong learning.
The city’s new cultural centre offers a dynamic space for youth to engage in activities such as plays, musical performances, chess competitions, and conferences. These events nurture creativity, critical thinking, and community engagement.
The city’s new cultural centre offers a dynamic space for youth to engage in activities such as plays, musical performances, chess competitions, and conferences. These events nurture creativity, critical thinking, and community engagement.
A multi-faceted approach to lifelong learning
Benguerir’s multifaceted approach to lifelong learning reflects its commitment to innovation, sustainability, and inclusion. From empowering youth to creating community spaces, the city has made remarkable progress in fostering a culture of learning.
As a UNESCO Learning City Awardee for 2024, Benguerir demonstrates how strategic collaboration, innovative initiatives, and a focus on equity can transform a city into a thriving hub of education and opportunity.
As a UNESCO Learning City Awardee for 2024, Benguerir demonstrates how strategic collaboration, innovative initiatives, and a focus on equity can transform a city into a thriving hub of education and opportunity.
The UNESCO Learning City Awards
The UNESCO Learning City Award was established to further promote lifelong learning for all and showcase good practices in building learning cities. It is conferred on cities that have achieved outstanding progress in this regard. All awardee cities have demonstrated best practices that lay the foundation for sustainable development.
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities (GNLC) supports and improves the practice of lifelong learning in member cities by promoting policy dialogue and peer learning, documenting effective strategies and good practice, fostering partnerships, providing capacity development, and developing tools and instruments to design, implement and monitor learning cities strategies.
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
© Le360 / Wikimedia Commons; City of Benguerir; George Trumpeter / Shutterstock.com; Cornfield / Shutterstock.com; Prostock-studio / Shutterstock.com; Lycée d'excellence de Benguerir / Wikimedia Commons; Getty Images Pro / Stock Good
UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities
© Le360 / Wikimedia Commons; City of Benguerir; George Trumpeter / Shutterstock.com; Cornfield / Shutterstock.com; Prostock-studio / Shutterstock.com; Lycée d'excellence de Benguerir / Wikimedia Commons; Getty Images Pro / Stock Good
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Benguerir, Morocco
Ouardi Abdellatif
Mobilizing stakeholders for inclusive education
Creating community learning spaces
Fostering sustainability through electric mobility
Empowering Youth through capacity-building programmes
Educator in Benguerir
Reviving education through the Second-Chance School
Learner from the Second-Chance School
Inclusive education for children with disabilities
Promoting learning through culture and sports
A multi-faceted approach to lifelong learning
The UNESCO Learning City Awards
The UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities