Project Launch:

In Morocco, only 14% of the population speaks English even though it is becoming a popular language used for educational purposes, scientific research and international communication. This project is supporting the efforts of a Peace Corps Volunteer in organizing a spelling bee, providing a fun and creative way for students to learn English which will broaden their employment opportunities in the future. The biggest addition to the success of Spelling Bee Morocco 2012 is a national level bee, where the spellers who advance from their school district and regions compete with other brilliant spellers from all over Morocco. The growth of the project is demonstrated by its network of partners and supporters, including World Connect, the Moroccan Association of Teachers of English (MATE), the Moroccan Ministry of Youth and Sports, Peace Corps, Macmillan Education, and by the more than 350 Moroccan schools that signed up to participate in 2013. An important step towards the sustainability of the project and building a spelling bee culture is training. MATE identified and trained twenty-two Moroccan teachers and supervisors who are prepared to undertake the many responsibilities of the implementation of Spelling Bee Morocco 2013, and eventually taking over full responsibility for the project from Peace Corps in 2014.