M'hammed Kilito

In Morocco, the 15 to 34 age group represents 11 million individuals, one-third of the population, according to the latest 2014 census. A treasure, to all observers who are aware that the main competitive advantage of a Moroccan economy without significant natural resources is its workforce. This advantage is essentially based on the energy and skills of the population. Today's youth are perceived as lost and sacrificed, as opportunities to make them a real engine of development have been missed until now.                    

The idea of devoting a project to Moroccan youth has been in the making for some time and it was when I read the alarming figures provided by the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE) in a report made public in August 2018 - on the 15-34 age group - that I finally decided to embark on this venture. Here are some of the figures presented in that report:                        

- Two out of three young Moroccans drop out of school - The unemployment rate is about 20%.
- Half of the people who work are in low-paying jobs
- 75% have no social security coverage                       

- 20% suffer from psychological disorders
- 72% of young people's time is spent on non-productive social activities - 82% of them do not exercise
- Only 1% of young people belong to a political party or union
- 10 to 15% participate in community life.                        

For this part of the project, I explore the realities of Moroccan youth in the countryside. Who are they? How do they live? What are their frustrations? What do they dream of? My goal is to answer these questions through photographic wandering in the countryside and small villages of Morocco. The young Moroccans of the countryside seem even more disoriented than the city dwellers due to the social fracture and the enclavement. Affected by a higher rate of unemployment, inadequate training offers when they are not absent and a lack of promising perspectives, they find themselves in a precarious position.