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OUR MADRASA
(WORLDSCHOOL HUB)
MARHABA (Welcome) to our Madrasa page.
On this page we explain for who our community is and all about the 5 pillars of our Madrasa (Worldschool hub) and our Douar (The vilage.)
At Madrasa Dunya we strongly believe that our 5 pillars:
- Daily Rhythm
- Basic Rules
- Basic principles
- Communication & decision making methods
- Dividing & mixing different age groups and backgrounds
Are needed to be able to keep the community thriving and at the same time learning/growing/connecting together from real life situations that happen when a community exists of families from all over the world with all kinds of different backgrounds, coming going and staying in the community.
Because of this belief, we see our 5 Pillars as the roots & wings of our community.
For who?
Worldschooling families
For families that travel the world, worldschooling and are travelling Morocco, we offer a place that feels like home while travelling. Our simple, cosy and comfortable accommodations are perfect for families who want to experience living amongst local culture and breath-taking nature.
By providing the comforts of home in central Morocco, in an area with much to explore, we feel we are truly the right place to go to for worldschooling families that want to discover Morocco while still having a home base.
Marrakech/Ourika
Residents
For families that live in the Marrakech/Ourika region, we provide a place to connect with other home/world schooling families and
local children. A place where children can learn from all this amazing world and country has to offer. Our community welcomes families who have
chosen to educate their children outside of the traditional school setting. We believe that learning does not only happen within the four walls of a classroom, but can also take place in the great outdoors, at museums, cultural events and in everyday interactions with people from different backgrounds. Our goal is to create a supportive environment where families can share resources, ideas and experiences and children can make new friends and learn from each other.
Local children
For local children we provide a place to connect with world/home schooling children.
A place where they can help with organizing local projects and create a cultural exchange
environment. Our aim is to foster a sense of community for them and create opportunities for learning and growth. By bringing together children from different backgrounds and experiences, we hope to facilitate the exchange of ideas and perspectives that can enrich all our lives. Through collaborative projects, we encourage children to develop leadership skills and take an active role in making a positive impact on their local community. We believe that by providing a space for cultural exchange, we can help children to broaden their horizons and gain a deeper understanding of the world around them.
DAILY RHYTHM
At Madrasa Dunya we use our own holistic educational approach by drawing together progressive and alternative learning approaches and embracing the talents, passions and local knowledge of our experienced team.
We focus on awakening a child's own passions and motivation through inspiration and engagement of all children.
We do this through our daily rhythm, which considers our brain map, the human body clock and daily needs as well as connection through friendships and community events.
By creating a flexible rhythm, rather than a schedule, children are free to explore their own passions, create play and connect through shared ideas, whilst guided and supported by our team.
At Madrasa Dunya, we are aware children have different needs. Our rhythm therefore offers all different kinds of activities for the kids to choose from or join in with during the day.
In this way everyone can be included,
from those that need more structure and rhythm
to those that need more freedom and time.
UNWIND
08:00-09:00
We start our day with UNWIND.
The hub is still closed but during this time the long term families provide YOGA/STRETCH/MORNING HIKE sessions.
The children are free to join or UNWIND at our swing area: UNDER THE AVOCADOS.
ARRIVE
09:00
The hub day starts with a walk in/gathering time for the whole community. We gather at our garden buffet bar, where everyone can just arrive and enjoy a cup of coffee, tea or hot cocoa whilst enjoying our healthy breakfast.
We continue the morning session with no set times as we flow naturally with the children & community.
What we serve:
* Hot porridge
* Homemade yoghurt
* Raw and pasteurized milk
* Homemade granola
* Cereals
* Healthy bread/pancakes
* Omelette
* Fresh/dried fruit.
* Nuts.
(We always consider special dietary wishes and allergies.)
Before the day starts we gather everyone for our morning circles/meetings, in where we introduce the topic of the day in a fun and age appropriate way.
LEARN
During LEARN we divide the children in age/ interest groups. We start with a morning/topic circle, followed by our learning hour.
Examples:
* Numbers/Letters play/arts
* Puzzles, Lego's and magnetic tiles
* Calculate/word games
* Moroccan numbers & phrases
* Own maths/language curriculum
(Assisted by own parents or one on one tutor)
MOVE
During ACTIVE we offer different sportive activities.
Examples:
* Toddler gym
* Schoolyard games
* Team games
* Beach explore & play
* Kickboxing
* Gymnastics
* Dancing
Kids can also choose to organize their own sportive activity.
GIVE & CARE
During give & care
(our hands on learning time,) the children join their teams to help where help is needed in the Madrasa.
We have different teams to choose from:
* Team Kitchen
* Team Garden
* Team Build
* Team Animals
* Team Theatre & Dance
REST & RECHARGE
12:30 - 15:00
After an active morning full of learning, sports and hands on learning.
Its always good to take a break.
12:30 - 13:00 LUNCH
13:00 - 14:00 REST
14:00 - 15:00 FREE PLAY
(During this time parents are responsible for their own children.)
For lunch we offer a buffet, this is always local and organic and includes vegan and gluten free choices, for example :
* Vegan Soups
* Vegetable salads
* Boiled or fried eggs (Thursdays fish)
* Home baked spelt bread
* Different spreads like, mayonnaise, cheese, jams, & chocolate spread (Non organic)
* Plain pasta & Rice
* Different sauces like, curries, Bolognese/cream sauce, stir fries
* Raw cut vegetables like, cucumber, tomatoes etc.
EXPLORE & EXPRESS
15:00
After REST & RECHARGE, we gather the kids again for a short afternoon snack while we share the options for the afternoon or kids chose to make their own plan. We continue with EXPLORE & EXPRESS. We divide the children in age/ interest groups for activities in this theme.
Examples:
* Beach play and built
*Topic research
* Nature collect/scavenger hunt
* Games
* Projects
* Survival
CREATE & CONNECT
After a short break and afternoon snack with tea, we continue the last part of our day. This time we offer different kind of fine motor skills activities like writing and creative arts.
Examples:
* Fine motor/Sensory play
* Creative writing
* Creative activities
* Amazigh or Arabic
* Poem writing
* Reflecting
* Blogging
REFLECT
16:30 - 17:00
At the end of the day we all gather again for our closing circle.
This is our closing moment, a time collect what we have made, reflect and share concerns/ideas.
BASIC RULES
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OUR BASIC PRINCIPLES
HOLISTIC APPROACH
At Madrasa Dunya we use our own Holistic approach. The focus in our approach is to inspire the children to think and decide for themselves, while still respecting the daily needs of their body minds and souls and understanding the responsibility of being part of a community, that thrives because of this.
At Madrasa Dunya we use the Democratic/Sociocratic schooling method, enhanced with a daily rhythm that is designed by us through looking at the natural daily rhythm, children's basic daily needs and following the rhythm of the human body clock together with all the different activation parts of our brain.
(See pictures below.)
Because of our experience in working in and researching about many different (alternative) education schooling methods, we ad in our method what in our opinions works and leave out what doesn't work.
Methods we have analysed/experienced:
Democratic schooling
Traditional schooling
Forest schooling
Waldorf method
Montessori education
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RHYTHMS & CYCLES
At Madrasa Dunya we respect and honour the natural rhythms and cycles of nature.
We use the natural rhythms and cycles of life as an inspiration for our yearly, seasonally, monthly, weekly and daily rhythms, themes & age group dividing.
By aligning ourselves with the natural world, we are able to create a connection with the earth and the environment around us.
This connection allows us to
live more in harmony with nature & ourselves, and to appreciate the beauty and wonder of the world we live in. At Madrasa Dunya, we believe that this connection is essential for our well-being and happiness.
Through our curriculum, we teach our students to respect and protect the
environment, to live sustainably, and to appreciate the richness and diversity of the
natural world.
FREEDOM WITH
RESPONSIBILITY
At Madrasa Dunya we believe and teach that all freedom comes with responsibility.
We believe that it is important for the whole community to understand that freedom is not just about doing what you want, but also about being accountable for your actions.
This is why we encourage our community to make responsible choices and to always consider others in your words, thoughts and actions. We believe and teach that all freedom ends where another person's freedom begins and that we should always be mindful of how our actions might affect others. By instilling these values in our community, we create a safe an respectful environment for everyone in it. At the same time we hope to prepare our children for a future where they can exercise their freedom
with wisdom and compassion.
CRITICAL THINKING
& PROBLEM SOLVING
At Madrasa Dunya we believe that critical thinking and problem solving are important traits to have.
We believe that one of the big problems in this world is that people don't think for themselves.
That's why we offer a place where children get a chance to see problems as a opportunity to learn from and are encouraged to question what is presented to them.
By questioning what is presented to them,
they can develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Our curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking and problem solving skills.
Our goal is to help students develop a curiosity and passion for learning that will serve them well throughout their lives.
LEARN FROM EACH OTHER
At Madrasa Dunya we create the opportunity to learn from each other. We do this by offering our hub to people from all over the world with all kinds of ages and backgrounds. Mixing many families and children of different ages and backgrounds allows to learn from each other and grow with each other.
We provide a unique learning experience by promoting cross-cultural understanding
and respect for diversity. Our approach to education is holistic and inclusive,
where everyone is encouraged to share their ideas and perspectives without judging others. This creates a vibrant and dynamic community where
learning happens naturally. We are committed to providing a safe, welcoming and nurturing environment where lifelong learning is celebrated.
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RAISE BY BEING A
GOOD EXAMPLE
At Madrasa Dunya, the most important part of selecting our facilitators is to find facilitators who embody the qualities of a positive role model for our children.
We firmly believe that the environment in which children are raised and educated, plays a significant role in shaping their character and behaviour. We can guarantee that all our facilitators are well behaved,
compassionate, patient, and dedicated to fostering a caring, fun and inclusive atmosphere. They all have hobbies and passions that align with the activities we want to offer and bring a wealth of knowledge about their culture and the natural life around us while still being eager to always learn more. We can ensure that each child receives personalized attention and loving support. Our facilitators are not only educators but also mentors who inspire curiosity, critical thinking, and a love for learning. Besides having a clean criminal record, being first aid trained and having the right character, experience, knowledge passions and hobbies, we don't believe in the need of having qualified staff because in our experience we have seen that most qualifications are not aligned with our standards and most qualified teachers are difficult to train and un-school.
Besides that we make sure we only hire local facilitators that love what we do, are eager to learn and completely agree with our vision. All our facilitators continuously undergo our trainings and develop and grow constantly by the way we are set up.
At Madrasa Dunya, we also place a high value on cultural competence, equality and understanding.
Our facilitators and staff all respect the diverse backgrounds of our families, creating an inclusive environment where every community member feels valued and respected. It is in their nature to create a warm and loving environment where everyone passing by feels a sense of belonging and community within our Madrasa.
COMMUNICATION
&
DECISSION MAKING
In Madrasa Dunya we believe the way we communicate, solve conflicts and make decisions in our community is very important and keeps our community, alive, growing and thriving. For this reason we have chosen for active listening and consent as Methods for the way we communicate and make decisions. Our approaches emphasize active listening, mutual respect, and inclusivity and involve creating a safe and open space for all community members to share their opinions and ideas, and then working together to find a solution that everyone can agree on. By using this approach, we hope to foster a culture of collaboration and understanding within our community and ensure that everyone's voice is heard and valued whilst at the same time constantly evolving as a community. At Madrasa Dunya, we are committed to creating a welcoming and supportive environment where individuals can thrive and grow together.
AGE GROUPS
At our Madrasa, we welcome and mix children of all ages creating a diverse and natural learning environment. Just like in all normal communities, where its natural for children of different ages to coexist. Our all ages mix setup allows children to learn from one another in unique ways. Younger kids can gain from their older peers, while older children develop leadership skills by helping the younger ones. Mixing all ages fosters collaboration, creativity, and a sense of community, enriching the learning experience for everyone involved.
We blend age groups throughout the day while also allowing for the division of children into specific age and interest groups. This approach enables us to cater activities to their needs and assign facilitators who excel at guiding particular age groups. Consequently, we offer a variety of activities to different interests and age ranges, such as:
- Active time: Gymnastics to kickboxing
- Learning time: Fine motor skills to engaging math games and blogging.
When dividing children into groups, we focus on the seasons of nature rather than their exact ages.
WINTER
Represents our youngest group, where babies are still developing and depend fully on their parents.
Much like the winter season, this phase is characterized by nurturing, rest, and close bonds, as babies are learning to engage with the world around them.
SPRING
Which corresponds to toddlers who are just beginning to walk and explore. This season symbolizes new growth and discovery, as toddlers are curious about their surroundings and eager to take their first steps into independence, much like the blooming flowers of spring.
SUMMER
Where children are more independent can spend significant parts of the day away from their parents. This age group is ready to explore everything around them, embracing learning in language and math. Summer embodies warmth, energy, and the joy of discovery, reflecting the vibrant spirit of these young learners.
AUTUMN/FALL
Representing our teenage group. This season is marked by desire for independence, responsibility, and self-organization. Much like the changing leaves, teenagers seek their own space and experience a range of emotions. They are developing their own identities and navigating their needs, which is a natural part of growing up.
See picture below for our seasonal age groups.
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