Doesn’t it ever hit you that 100, 300, 500 years ago someone stood right where you are? That you might be walking the footsteps of a stranger? When I visit historical sites, my mind can’t fully grasp that, long ago, someone was looking at a freshly painted new door that now looks rusty and worn out. It’s those moments that, for a second, make me travel back in time, forging an invisible bond with an imaginary someone from a past generation. In a second, I tie the past and the present seamlessly without realizing that that moment has seized my conscience. It’s an intoxicating feeling, almost like magic. This is why the past fascinates me so much, and this is why I love history. It’s certainly not because I like politics, art, and culture (which I do), it’s because I can’t stop myself from thinking of everyone who was behind all those things. It’s not only the place that we inherited, it’s the spirits of the past generations, in a way, that we did.

 Today is World Heritage Day. A day dedicated to celebrating the joint history and cultural heritage of the human race. This day is also known as International Monuments and Sites Day, and it’s all about raising awareness of the importance of preserving our cultural heritage. Think of the Great Wall of China, Machu Picchu, the Great Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, the Colosseum… All these are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, but there are thousands, if not millions more of sites all around the world that hold their own charm. As a society, we must unite to protect our history and heritage, so they can become assets for the next generations.

 CILL is working on bringing heritage to the youth. With projects that stretch from Oman to Spain and beyond, we are looking for new ways to show that history should not be overlooked, as it is the source of everything that we have come to be. Through our cultural heritage, we aim to demonstrate that history is more than just books, buildings, and bridges. Rather, heritage and history are a well of knowledge and possibilities for young people. I am thrilled to have the possibility to work on something that I am truly passionate about, and all to bring it to others. To show them what heritage truly is and why it’s not just words and bricks, but the spirits of the people who worked. There’s nothing more rewarding than being able to share something you hold so dear.

By now, it goes without saying that I’m a lover of stories. I can get so wrapped up in all the details and intricacies in history that it sometimes can mentally feel like The Garden of Earthly Delights, but in the best way. That’s what history and heritage is for me. That’s why, today, I want to encourage you to think what heritage is for you. I want to encourage you to go out and explore, it doesn’t have to be the Alhambra, it can be your local museum or a small site close to your home. I encourage you to think of who was there and why, and let’s celebrate World Heritage Day together!

“Study the past if you would define the future.”

― Confucius

by María Irigoyen, Heritage Projects Assistant

The ShePower Programme is a collaboration between the Youth Center for Research and Development (YCRD) of Morocco in partnership with the Centre for International Learning and Leadership (CILL) in the UK, funded by the British Council in the framework of its Leadership for Gender Equality programme for the duration of April to June 2021.

ShePower will be a series of workshops to be held online from April 2021 to June 2021. Twenty five Moroccan female participants will discover aspects of media including, but not limited to, news styles, reporting, interviewing, videography and photography. The participants will learn how to use their voices and express themselves on the program media platform, highlight causes from their communities, and use their voices to bring change.

Participants on the programme have been selected on the basis of their exceptional motivation, leadership potential, and commitment to making a difference in their communities. They are young extraordinary women with great potential for future leadership roles in society.

The partnership will provide training and follow-up from experts in the UK, advanced media skills, access to a digital platform with all inputs during the training, an internet accessibility fund for 3 months, and a final achievement certificate.

Trevor Keough, Director of CILL and Momentum World said ” we are really looking forward to being part of the delivery team on this project which is our first time working with a partner in Morocco. We hope that it is the first of many such opportunities and we are grateful to the British Council for funding innovative ideas such as this”.

By Trevor Keough