HIBAPRESS – Khalil Fezzazi
Youth from the Moroccan diaspora residing in the Belgian capital, Brussels, have praised the efforts of Professor Saleh Dahy, Director of the Center for Media and Cinema Studies in the Sahara, in preparing, organizing, and ensuring the success of the cultural and media visit program undertaken by a delegation of Moroccan youth to the city of Laayoune, from October 19 to 23, 2026.
This visit was organized by the SAME-SAME Youth House in Brussels as part of an initiative aimed at strengthening the connection of Moroccans abroad with their homeland and enabling diaspora members, particularly the rising generations, to discover the southern provinces of the Kingdom and gain firsthand knowledge of their cultural, civilizational, and developmental potential, as well as to foster communication bridges with the local population.
The preparation for this initiative took over two months of work and coordination, during which Saleh Dahy oversaw the development of a diverse program that included meetings, field visits, and experience exchanges in the fields of media, culture, and youth. This provided the delegation members with an opportunity to learn about a number of institutions and actors in the city of Laayoune and to observe the developmental progress the region is experiencing.
The visit's objectives were not limited to their cultural and communication aspects. It also served as an occasion to discuss future cooperation prospects between institutions and entities interested in youth, childhood, media, and cultural tourism issues, through the exchange of ideas and proposals aimed at launching joint projects and strengthening cooperation between Laayoune and Brussels.
This initiative also provided participants with the opportunity to learn about the history of the Moroccan Sahara and its cultural components, and to observe the developmental and urban transformations taking place in the southern provinces. This enhances the connection of young Moroccans residing abroad with their national identity and opens up broader horizons for them to engage with the issues of their homeland.
In this context, several members of the delegation expressed their appreciation for the efforts made by Professor Saleh Dahy, commending his support throughout the various stages of the program and his keenness to provide suitable conditions for its success. According to them, this contributed to leaving a positive impression on the participants and strengthening their desire to engage in similar initiatives in the future.
This experience highlights the importance of investing in the energies of young people from the Moroccan diaspora through cultural and media initiatives that go beyond introductory visits to become opportunities for knowledge exchange and the building of sustainable partnerships between institutions and actors within and outside Morocco.
Thus, the visit of the Moroccan diaspora youth from Brussels to the city of Laayoune served as a milestone in strengthening communication between Moroccans abroad and their homeland, and in consolidating the values of belonging, openness, and cooperation, making youth a vital bridge for acquaintance and experience exchange between generations and institutions.
