CREATED IN 2006

What is IDMAJ: The full name is: Neighborhoods Association IDMAJ.  IDMAJ means “INTEGRATION”  in Arabic.

The objectives set in the statutes for IDMAJ are:

1) Encourage citizens to take in charge proximity action  in their own neighborhoods and communities,
2) Participate in the organization of cultural, educational, economical, technological and sports activities,
3) Engage the population in individual and collective efforts to improve the quality of life of the majority,
4) Encourage  optimal development of each individual within his/her culture and locality,
5) Fight against delinquency and marginalization, mainly among the youth,
6) Encourage tutoring, schooling and educational supports to reduce school drop outs and failure and
improve the rate of success,
7) Teach civic education and civic awareness through actions

INTRODUCTION TO THE ASSOCIATION BY THE PRESIDENT FOUNDER, BOUBKER MAZOZ

IDMAJ is  a space for youth by youth to help integrate underprivileged and marginalized youth into
the society.  We train our members to become leaders in their communities, to be positive citizens and
contribute to the development of their country.  Through workshops on leadership, team work, volunteerism,citizenship, mutual respect and tolerance, we prepare our members to be better armed and capable of inculcateding the same values they learned to at risk kids and vulnerable youth in their own communities and neighborhoods.

Why IDMAJ?

More than  90 percent of IDMAJ members were born in these under privileged, Under served, modest and poor neighborhoods.  They understand the mentality of the people in their neighborhoods.

They know exactly the needs, the preoccupations, the hopes and the frustrations of the population of their neighborhoods. They can serve as examples and models to  the kids in their ares.  They can show them the right way and help them differentiate between the good and the bad. 

Through action, passion and patience, they can lead the way for others to follow their path.  They can convince them by example that with education, hard work, perseverance and faith they can succeed in life and be able to leave their misery behind.  We wanted to give these kids opportunity and hopeful future.  We want to help them be positive in life, good citizens, future leaders and capable of contributing to the development and progress of their community and country.

Another essential advantage of IDMAJ is that there is no big difference of age between its members and the  target population.  Most beneficiaries are kids from the same poor neighborhoods and could see themselves in these successful IDMAJ youth . Therefore, they trust them, listen to them, imitate them and make friends with them and respect them. They are proud to  see successful youth from their own neighborhood and with the same background.  They believe that it is possible to have a bright future and a descent life if they follow their path.

With IDMAJ, we brought hope, gave opportunity and allowed the kids to have wonderful dreams and the possibility to realize some of these dreams. With IDMAJ, we gave different examples from what the kids used to see and follow.

With IDMAJ, we gave our beneficiaries  a positive meaning of life and showed them a meaningful way of life.

With IDMAJ, we try to consolidate family ties, bring the kids closer to their parents and help the parents take good care of their kids. With IDMAJ, the parents started to see hope in their kids and with that they started showing them their love, cherish them, support them and worry more about them and their future.

With IDMAJ, we try to protect these at risk kids and vulnerable youth through cultural programs, extra curricular activities, tutoring, civic education, music and sports.  And mainly, through human values, generosity, solidarity and love.

The method is very simple.  We do care for these kids and we show this care by action.

We are helping them change their attitudes and behaviors not through advice but by giving examples.

We work from our hearts, believe in what we do and have faith in the kids we work with.  The kids feel and appreciate all that.   We don't spoil them, we simply give them opportunity.  We do not tell them what to do but we show them what to do.  We do not criticize their language but we teach them another language.  

We do not show pity for what they lack but we value what they already have.  Even in their misery, the kids of these neighborhoods are too proud to be pitied.  We Treat them with equally,  more so when they are mixed with  "fortunate" kids from privileged neighborhoods.  We try to make them believe in themselves, gain self esteem and self confidence.  We try to make them strong, proud and confident to be able to confront all the challenges of life
 
These kids live in tough environments, have lost hope and trust in their surroundings... They are tired of words and no longer believe in promises.  They have been used and misused by everybody  They feel the injustices, they live the injustice, they see the injustice and neither them nor their parents or grandparents have or had the power to change things.  They are much better aware of what's going on, not only  in their neighborhoods, but also nationally and internationally.

They are very smart and and more than some of the privileged kids from other neighborhoods.    Many of them are brilliant and talented but simply were not given the opportunity.

Therefore, we have to be very careful when dealing with these kids and youth.  We have to watch our language and behavior.

We have to be realistic, honest and sincere.  We have to treat them as everybody and not feel sorry for them. 

We should talk a little and act more.  These kids need to see action and trust only the results.   We should listen to them instead of ordering them around.  We should explain to them instead of instructing them. We should show them the right way without criticizing the wrong ways they follow.  They were born in such insane environment and that is not their fault. They try to imitate what they see in their surroundings, including their brothers and sisters .

Those are the only examples they have. Criticizing them is criticizing their elders, even their parents.   Some parents are also delinquents, drunkards and drug addicts.   Many kids live with one parent, often mothers.  We should always lead by example.

Today, and after four years of work, these kids started treating us as part of their families.   Some consider us as their brothers,sisters and uncles and aunts and even fathers.  I am the father of many.

These kids lack tenderness, affection, warmth and a lot of care.  They need to hear gentle words, be valued and nicely treated.

These kids have been aggressed, orally and physically, by almost everybody: parents, teachers, brothers or sisters, classmates, friends, and even the passers by. And we try to change all that!.  Are we successful?  To a certain extent, yes!!

Our Motto is:  BELIEVE IN WHAT YOU DO, LEAD BY EXAMPLE, ACT MORE AND TALK LESS, AND NEVER GIVE UP.

Boubker Mazoz
President Founder
The Neighborhoods Association IDMAJ
Soukaina HAMIA : President IDMAJ