The document discusses a rural village in Morocco that lacked basic infrastructure and educational opportunities prior to 2001. Most children in the village worked in agriculture from a young age instead of attending school, as the nearest school was several miles away over rough roads. The region also suffered from drought, so water was rationed. In 2001, the Medersat.Com foundation built a new school in the village with contributions of land and labor from the community. The school provided the village with its first reliable water source and access to education for children.

1. UNIT 7

2. Rural community
Countryside

3. He is tending the field

4. He is herding sheep
goats

5. Rough road

6. Drought
A drought-stricken region
Water is rationed

7. Village well

8. tap
Running water

9. "Medersat.com was established to give all children and adults in rural
areas a real chance to reach a level of education that will enable them to
become positive forces for development and to be able to contribute to
an environment of openness and tolerance in their own communities,"
explains Othman Benjelloun, Chairman and CEO of BMCE Bank.
Medersat.com

10. The text is going to talk about:
1. Problem of water in rural areas
2. Finding a job in the countryside
3. The infrastructure of Moroccan villages
4. Building schools to help the rural communities
Predictions

11. A good illustration of Citizenship in action can be found in a small village, about an hour’s journey from Fez in
the Middle Atlas region of Morocco.
Prior to 2001, the majority of the children in that village had never seen a school, much less attended one. At a
very young age, most of them went to work in the countryside, tending fields or herding goats. Those who were lucky
enough to attend classes were forced to walk several miles over rough roads to the nearest school. In this drought-
stricken region, water was often rationed; keeping the people supplied with sufficient water meant endless treks down the
hill to the village well on donkeys.
When the Medersat.Com foundation decided to build a school there, the community donated the land and
provided much of the labour for construction. In keeping with Medersat.Com’s philosophy, the school was situated in the
physical centre of the community with the aim of making it a key driver in local development. The architectural style and
building materials reflected local traditions. What emerged was a complex of buildings that feature domes and graceful
arches, punctuated by paved courtyards open to the sky.
A reliable water supply was provided with the assistance of a foundation partner, the Drinking Water Utility
(ONEP). when the doors of the school finally opened in 2001, one of the school’s two teachers, Abdesselam, had to show
the children how to operate the taps; without running water in their village, they had never used a water tap.
Soon after the school opened, a representative of the Foundation met with the villagers and reflected on the
nature of the partnership that Medersat. Com has struck with rural communities across Morocco. “ We’ll finish the work
and give you the keys, because these are your walls, your land, your land, and your children,” she told the assembled
citizens of the village.
The text is going to talk about:
1. Problem of water in rural areas
2. Finding a job in the countryside
3. The infrastructure of Moroccan villages
4. Building schools to help the rural communities

12. A good illustration of Citizenship in action can be found in a small village, about an hour’s journey from Fez in
the Middle Atlas region of Morocco.
Prior to 2001, the majority of the children in that village had never seen a school, much less attended one. At a
very young age, most of them went to work in the countryside, tending fields or herding goats. Those who were lucky
enough to attend classes were forced to walk several miles over rough roads to the nearest school. In this drought-
stricken region, water was often rationed; keeping the people supplied with sufficient water meant endless treks down the
hill to the village well on donkeys.
When the Medersat.Com foundation decided to build a school there, the community donated the land and
provided much of the labour for construction. In keeping with Medersat.Com’s philosophy, the school was situated in the
physical centre of the community with the aim of making it a key driver in local development. The architectural style and
building materials reflected local traditions. What emerged was a complex of buildings that feature domes and graceful
arches, punctuated by paved courtyards open to the sky.
A reliable water supply was provided with the assistance of a foundation partner, the Drinking Water Utility
(ONEP). when the doors of the school finally opened in 2001, one of the school’s two teachers, Abdesselam, had to show
the children how to operate the taps; without running water in their village, they had never used a water tap.
Soon after the school opened, a representative of the Foundation met with the villagers and reflected on the
nature of the partnership that Medersat. Com has struck with rural communities across Morocco. “ We’ll finish the work
and give you the keys, because these are your walls, your land, and your children,” she told the assembled citizens of the
village. Are these statements true or false? Justify.
1. The children of the village attended school before 2001.
2. It rains a lot in that rural region so people have a steady supply of water
3. The school was built outside of the village.

13. A good illustration of Citizenship in action can be found in a small village, about an hour’s journey from Fez in
the Middle Atlas region of Morocco.
Prior to 2001, the majority of the children in that village had never seen a school, much less attended one. At a
very young age, most of them went to work in the countryside, tending fields or herding goats. Those who were lucky
enough to attend classes were forced to walk several miles over rough roads to the nearest school. In this drought-
stricken region, water was often rationed; keeping the people supplied with sufficient water meant endless treks down the
hill to the village well on donkeys.
When the Medersat.Com foundation decided to build a school there, the community donated the land and
provided much of the labour for construction. In keeping with Medersat.Com’s philosophy, the school was situated in the
physical centre of the community with the aim of making it a key driver in local development. The architectural style and
building materials reflected local traditions. What emerged was a complex of buildings that feature domes and graceful
arches, punctuated by paved courtyards open to the sky.
A reliable water supply was provided with the assistance of a foundation partner, the Drinking Water Utility
(ONEP). when the doors of the school finally opened in 2001, one of the school’s two teachers, Abdesselam, had to show
the children how to operate the taps; without running water in their village, they had never used a water tap.
Soon after the school opened, a representative of the Foundation met with the villagers and reflected on the
nature of the partnership that Medersat. Com has struck with rural communities across Morocco. “ We’ll finish the work
and give you the keys, because these are your walls, your land, and your children,” she told the assembled citizens of the
village. Answer these questions.
1. Why was water rationed in the village?
2. Who contributed to the building of the school? How?
3. When were children able to attend the new school?

14. A good illustration of Citizenship in action can be found in a small village, about an hour’s journey from Fez in
the Middle Atlas region of Morocco.
Prior to 2001, the majority of the children in that village had never seen a school, much less attended one. At a
very young age, most of them went to work in the countryside, tending fields or herding goats. Those who were lucky
enough to attend classes were forced to walk several miles over rough roads to the nearest school. In this drought-
stricken region, water was often rationed; keeping the people supplied with sufficient water meant endless treks down the
hill to the village well on donkeys.
When the Medersat.Com foundation decided to build a school there, the community donated the land and
provided much of the labour for construction. In keeping with Medersat.Com’s philosophy, the school was situated in the
physical centre of the community with the aim of making it a key driver in local development. The architectural style and
building materials reflected local traditions. What emerged was a complex of buildings that feature domes and graceful
arches, punctuated by paved courtyards open to the sky.
A reliable water supply was provided with the assistance of a foundation partner, the Drinking Water Utility
(ONEP). when the doors of the school finally opened in 2001, one of the school’s two teachers, Abdesselam, had to show
the children how to operate the taps; without running water in their village, they had never used a water tap.
Soon after the school opened, a representative of the Foundation met with the villagers and reflected on the
nature of the partnership that Medersat. Com has struck with rural communities across Morocco. “ We’ll finish the work
and give you the keys, because these are your walls, your land, and your children,” she told the assembled citizens of the
village.
Situation in the village before the
school was built
Situation in the village after the
school was built

15. Situation in the village before the
school was built
Situation in the village after the
school was built
Children didn’t attend school
Water was rationed
It was difficult to get water
A reliable water supply was provided
The village has running water
Children attend school
"Medersat.com was established to give all children and adults in rural
areas a real chance to reach a level of education that will enable them to
become positive forces for development and to be able to contribute to
an environment of openness and tolerance in their own communities,"
explains Othman Benjelloun, Chairman and CEO of BMCE Bank.
READING

16. A good illustration of Citizenship in action can be found in a small village, about an hour’s journey from Fez in
the Middle Atlas region of Morocco.
Prior to 2001, the majority of the children in that village had never seen a school, much less attended one. At a
very young age, most of them went to work in the countryside, tending fields or herding goats. Those who were lucky
enough to attend classes were forced to walk several miles over rough roads to the nearest school. In this drought-
stricken region, water was often rationed; keeping the people supplied with sufficient water meant endless treks down the
hill to the village well on donkeys.
When the Medersat.Com foundation decided to build a school there, the community donated the land and
provided much of the labour for construction. In keeping with Medersat.Com’s philosophy, the school was situated in the
physical centre of the community with the aim of making it a key driver in local development. The architectural style and
building materials reflected local traditions. What emerged was a complex of buildings that feature domes and graceful
arches, punctuated by paved courtyards open to the sky.
A reliable water supply was provided with the assistance of a foundation partner, the Drinking Water Utility
(ONEP). when the doors of the school finally opened in 2001, one of the school’s two teachers, Abdesselam, had to show
the children how to operate the taps; without running water in their village, they had never used a water tap.
Soon after the school opened, a representative of the Foundation met with the villagers and reflected on the
nature of the partnership that Medersat. Com has struck with rural communities across Morocco. “ We’ll finish the work
and give you the keys, because these are your walls, your land, and your children,” she told the assembled citizens of the
village. Find in the text words that mean the same as:
1. Trip: paragraph 1
2. Before: paragraph 2
3. Give for free: paragraph 3