Volunteers receive a full three-week induction course after their arrival covering language, culture, music, history/politics and general knowledge.
Those interested in classical Arabic can ask for a greater focus on this; all are taught the basics of dialect, and this course of lessons is supplemented with a visit to local figures (the baker, butcher, grocer and so on) to put into practice what has been learnt. Other guided visits to town, to discover the tannery and other local treasures, are also organized.
A short course is also set by some of the GMH activity organizers, training volunteers to take charge of activities with children, imparting them basic group techniques…and even to sing Moroccan songs!
The third week of the course mostly deals with the preparation of volunteers for their work placements, giving them the opportunity to spend half a day in each of the institutions before choosing in which to work. Specific preparatory lessons in the art of teaching/ caring for babies are organized.