Medina of Tanger, Tangier–Tétouan–Al Hoceïma, Morocco

Community, State/Province, Country
Medina of Tanger, Tangier–Tétouan–Al Hoceïma, Morocco
Full Name of Contact
Laura Formentini, SFT animal sanctuary’s ambassador
Contact Email
info@lauraformentini.com
Title of Project
Peace in Action Tangier – Project Hayat: Model City, Model Compassion
One to Two Sentence Program Vision
To create the first Peace in Action City under the UN’s GC26 directive by transforming Tangier into a model of humane education and compassionate urban cohabitation—where children, animals, and communities are all protected through active civic participation and community love. This vision will be led by SFT Animal Sanctuary, the largest animal sanctuary in Morocco, whose proven expertise and dedication make Tangier a global example of compassion in action.
Descriptions of Challenges
• Historical culling of street dogs, often witnessed by children, leading to trauma and normalized violence.
• Limited humane infrastructure and public awareness around animal welfare.
• Institutional mistrust between NGOs and authorities due to past confrontations.
• Cultural fear and misunderstanding of stray animals.
• Absence of peace education and emotional development tools in public schools.
• Youth disengagement, lack of civic participation, and community fragmentation.
Longer Project Description
Project Hayat (“Life” in Arabic), launched years ago by SFT Animal Sanctuary in Tanger, is a bold, humane, and scalable model to transform Tangier into a Peace in Action City rooted in compassion and community engagement. Operating under the binding UN directive GC26 (United Nations’ General Comment 26, passed in September 2023), which prohibits children from witnessing animal abuse, the project bridges the gap between animal welfare, public health, and emotional development.

Objectives
• End the public culling of stray animals.
• Implement citywide TNVT (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Tag) strategies.
• Educate children and communities about empathy, coexistence, and animal protection.
• Reframe street animals as community guardians (“Police Officers Against Rabies”).
• Engage local authorities as collaborators rather than adversaries.
• Shift public consciousness through media, storytelling, and education.

Target Groups
• Children and youth (particularly in underserved neighborhoods).
• Local authorities and municipal staff.
• Street dog guardians and informal caretakers.
• Women and families in working-class neighborhoods.
• Schools, educators, and grassroots NGOs.
• Artists and cultural workers promoting peace and empathy.

Methodologies
• Humane education workshops in schools and community centers.
• Guardian program: financial incentives and training for community dog caretakers.
• Civic storytelling and public awareness campaigns.
• Collaboration with public health authorities and vets.
• Mobile TNVT clinics and community-led trap-and-return operations.
• Peace and compassion curricula integrated into youth programs.

Timeline (Phase I: 12 months)
• Q1–Q2: Public launch of Tanger City of Peace under GC26, school programs begin, guardians trained.
• Q3: City-wide campaign rollout; TNVT expanded; municipal partnerships deepened.
• Q4: Evaluation; Phase II planning begins.

Partners and Involvement
• SFT Animal Sanctuary (lead organization)
• Tangier Municipality
• Local veterinary networks
• Moroccan media outlets
• Schools and youth centers
• International Cities of Peace network
• Community activists and faith leaders
First Project Steps
1. Convene stakeholder meetings with city officials, educators, and community leaders.
2. Roll out initial TNVT program zones with guardian recruitment.
3. Begin classroom-based peace and compassion workshops.
4. Launch public messaging and national media coverage to announce Tangier’s transition.
5. Engage local artists and influencers in storytelling and awareness efforts.
Who the Project Impacts
• Children witnessing animal abuse and suffering psychological trauma.
• Thousands of street animals previously at risk of violent culling.
• Public school students participating in compassion education.
• Local NGOs and civic groups seeking humane models of urban welfare.
• Residents in low-income neighborhoods who gain tools and dignity through guardian roles.
• The broader Moroccan public, inspired by a replicable model of humane success.
Follow-up Phase II Steps
• Expand the Guardian Program to all city districts.
• Integrate Project Hayat into Tangier’s municipal planning strategy.
• Establish Tangier as a training hub for other Moroccan cities.
• Host a regional conference on Peace in Action and humane cohabitation under GC26.
• Launch partnerships with UNESCO and UNHCR for regional expansion.
• Introduce a Peace City badge system for participating neighborhoods.

Tanger City of Peace in Action
How We Measure Success
• Quantitative:
• Number of animals treated and tagged through TNVT.
• Number of trained and active guardians.
• School workshop attendance and reach.
• Number of protests or petitions against animal abuse.
• Municipal budget allocation toward humane solutions.
• Website and social media engagement.• Qualitative:
• Testimonials from children, educators, and guardians.
• Public sentiment shifts tracked through surveys.
• ELIMINATION in violent incidents involving street animals.
• Media coverage and international recognition.
• Improved municipal-NGO relations.
Final Comment
Tangier is not only saving animals—it is reshaping what peace looks like. With the backing of the UN’s GC26 directive, we are building a city where compassion is practical, measurable, and scalable. The success of Project Hayat proves that humane policy, when rooted in love and community cooperation, can spark global transformation.
PHOTO DESCRIPTIONS
Image 1:A young guardian in the making—children in Tangier are learning empathy, safety, and coexistence through Project Hayat. This generation is being raised with compassion, not fearImage 2:Salima Kadaoui, founder of SFT Animal Sanctuary, embodies love in action. After giving up all her possessions in 2012, she continues to fight for the voiceless—proving that dignity belongs to every being, regardless of ability

 

Image 3:

Street by street, guardian by guardian—Project Hayat’s TNVT work empowers Tangier’s communities to protect and care for street dogs as allies in public health and peace