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.
The first phase of the CPE took place between April 18 and April 24, 2011 with 20 Somerville residents and employees traveled to Tiznit, Morocco to meet and collaborate with their professional counterparts in Tiznit with the focus of youth development, employment, and the cultivation of 21st century job skills.
CPE participants with Tiznit youth for a discussion based exercise on the challenges of the 21st Century workplace
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. Both groups worked directly with their Tizniti counterparts on the common theme of youth development.
Moroccan and American educators sharing both strengths and weaknesses in their classrooms and discussing ways to further develop their teaching skills.
CPE participants visiting progressive transit projects being implemented in Tiznit
Massachusetts State representative Denise Provost for the 27th Middlesex District joined the second Somerville delegation and continued to build the relationship between the two cities on a governmental level.
State representative Denise Provost and UME Executive Director presenting a tapestry of historic Somerville sites to Governor Driss Benaddou of Tiznit
The CPE program also received significant media coverage including an article in the Agence Maghreb Arabe Pressee. Please click here for the article
A future television segment on is also planned following the conclusion of filming of the Tiznit delegation in Somerville between April 28- May 3.
CPE participant Josh Wairi being interviewed during a school visit
A site visit to a local orphanage was conducted as a way for the social workers to view how Tiznit provides the community with social services.
As in the 2009 visit by the Somerville delegation, the CPE participants were generously treated to wonderful Moroccan hospitality by our Tiznit hosts.
CPE Participant Karen Krolack and UME staff member Erin Jenkins were dressed in traditional Berber wedding attire at the closing ceremony.
Mayor Curtatone declared April 28th, 2011 “Tiznit-Somerville Day” at the
Board of Aldermans meeting upon arrival of the Moroccan delegation.
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. Please click on the links below to view the articles.
The Boston Globe: YourTown Section
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 at the Arthur D. Healey School
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 the 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!
he University of the Middle East Project (UME) builds bridges through education among societies and cultures in the Middle East, North Africa, North America and Europe.
