The group traveling to Morocco with Heinz Grill consisted of table tennis players, yoga teachers, a cook, an ecologist and a therapist. The aim was to get into contact and exchange through the different subjects and, as in all the spiritual motivated peace trips with Heinz Grill, to build up the sphere for the country.
Morocco is a rather poor country with a high share of desert zones, but also mediterranean climate with rather fertile soil.(1)In recent years it became more and more interesting for business investments for european, american or asian companies. One big sector of foreign companies already settled is the automotive industry.(2) The population consists mainly of berber but also in a high part of Arabs and minorities of e.g. gnaws and europeans.(3) Official languages are Arab and Berber but in economics and commerce primary language is French. (4) In Casablanca it was actually more than easy to get along with English.
Our experiences during these days were characterised by the fact that people were very accommodating and sociable. It was very easy to make contacts.
Nabil, the president of the table tennis club even organized extra training classes and also arranged other meetings with his cousin and with a friend who are working in other fields of our interest such as spirituality, ecology and nutrition. Visiting two yoga centers the atmosphere and the conversations were very natural and welcoming. Most of the people we met repeatedly so that relationships were able to develop. Especially at the table tenis training our players participated each day. Heinz and Wolfgang trained the youth and could also promote the trainers. The lively and joyful atmosphere can surely be seen at the pictures.
Building up an image about the situation of the country and thinking about future perspectives the thought of creating an equilibrium came into mind. Regarding the climate there is a lot of light and heat in Morocco, whereas a lack of light in Europe. In the energy sector ideas of creating business relations by installing photovoltaic systems in the desert and generate the so called „green hydrogen“ for foreign countries seem very meaningful. Heinz Grill considered it very valuable for the future for a rich country to provide meaningful support to a poorer one thru economic relations. A support and promotion between people can take place on different levels. Noticing that the financial situation is not very good at the table tenis club, Heinz Grill gave a donation and also a table tenis tap.
Another exchange could be achieved through the exchange of ideas and thoughts. Meeting Nabil’s cousin Younes Lahiaoui Heinz Grill was talking about table tennis as being the only sport in which the opposing sides met peacefully during second world war. The next day we visited Younes at his ecological center for therapeutical and spiritual trainings in Ben Slimane (5) and he repeated this thought whilst introducing us. Heinz Grill said it is very valuable when one thought is remembered.
In total the trip went very well. Heinz Grill said, that the light in Morocco was not very centered at the beginning of the trip. At the end it became calmer and a lot of contacts were created.
We would appreciate our morrocean friends to come to Lundo for table tennis and further sharing of expertise, but due to Visa Issues it is not as easy as for europeans to travel there. Therefore, the exchange will likely continue with us travelling to Morocco again. By the way, the kitchen team is already planning the next trip.
