“I never felt like I was in a youth exchange. It felt like I was at home, talking with my brothers and sisters.” — Douae, participant
That quote summed up the experience pretty well.
By the end of Lost in Marrakech, what had started with 20 young people from Morocco and Finland had grown into a close-knit group, brought together through shared meals, activities, conversations and plenty of time spent discovering Marrakech together.
Throughout the week, participants explored culture through food: markets, street food, home-cooked meals, celebrations, spices and cooking techniques. Food became a way to understand not only what people eat, but the traditions, habits and stories behind it.
One of the highlights was creating four original recipes combining Moroccan and Finnish food traditions: LihaShuka, Msemen-Pirraka, Lohi Sahara and Salmon Tajine.
But the exchange went well beyond food. Participants left with a greater openness towards cultural differences, a deeper appreciation of one another’s backgrounds and new friendships.
