Fez — Children in Khouribga took center stage last Friday, April 10, during the “Spring Festival of Childhood” at the Ben Jelloul Preschool Center, where traditional dress, heritage-themed performances, and expressive group tableaux brought  Moroccan identity to life. 

Spring Festival for Children / MWN
Spring Festival for Children / MWN

The event was organized as part of a partnership linking the Fondation Marocaine pour la Promotion de l’Enseignement Préscolaire (Moroccan Foundation for the Promotion of Preschool Education, FMPS) and OCP’s “Act4Community Khouribga,” a local development initiative tied to the phosphate group’s broader social engagement model.

Spring Festival for Children / MWN
Spring Festival for Children / MWN

FMPS is a nonprofit foundation focused on expanding quality preschool education in Morocco, while OCP’s “Act4Community” model is designed to mobilize employees and local actors around projects that serve surrounding communities.

Spring Festival for Children / MWN
Spring Festival for Children / MWN

Held under the slogan, “From every region, a story… and Morocco brings us together,” the festival positioned cultural diversity as a shared national strength. 

Spring Festival for Children / MWN
Spring Festival for Children / MWN

The program began at 3 p.m. and featured children representing different Moroccan cities and regions through local-inspired clothing and artistic scenes drawn from customs, traditions, and regional cultural markers.

Spring Festival for Children / MWN
Spring Festival for Children / MWN

The result was a vivid , child-centered portrait of Morocco from north to south and east to west. 

Spring Festival for Children / MWN
Spring Festival for Children / MWN

The performances appeared simple in form, yet  carried a deeper educational message: helping children recognize cultural plurality while strengthening a common sense of belonging.

Spring Festival for Children / MWN
Spring Festival for Children / MWN

A festival beyond celebration

Spring Festival for Children / MWN
Spring Festival for Children / MWN

The festival reflected a broader educational approach that links early childhood learning with creativity, confidence, and social awareness. 

Spring Festival for Children / MWN
Spring Festival for Children / MWN

In Khouribga, these community programs do more than just provide education; they include initiatives like holiday camps and local activities that help kids get involved and develop new skills.

Spring Festival for Children / MWN
Spring Festival for Children / MWN

At the Ben Jelloul Preschool Center, the children’s group performances also pointed to the work taking place behind the scenes. Their confidence and spontaneity suggested careful preparation by teaching and administrative staff, whose role extended beyond event planning to shaping a space where children could express themselves publicly and comfortably.

Spring Festival for Children / MWN
Spring Festival for Children / MWN

The gathering also strengthened ties between the school and families, creating room for positive engagement around the role of extracurricular activities in a child’s growth.