Cultural and Religious Diversity in Medina of Casablanca: A Socio-Psychological Approach to a Field School Outing.

As part of its educational and cultural activities, the Association for the Heritage of Medina-Casablanca (Association de Medina Patrimoine) organized a pedagogical outing for the students of Atlantide Schools (Ecoles Atlantide), in coordination with the local Authorities of the Boussmara province, who welcomed and supported the initiative.

This activity aimed to introduce students to the historical, cultural, and religious dimensions of the old Medina of Casablanca, considered a space historically marked by coexistence and dialogue among diverse cultures and religions.

The tour included several key landmarks deeply rooted in the city’s history and heritage, it began at the of Seqala house, a historical fort built during the reign of Sultan Moulay Abdallah, embodying the city's defensive architectural character, this element also founded in many other Moroccan coastal cities such as Rabat, Essaouira, and Tangier, as protection against invasions.

The visit continued to the Mausoleum of Sidi Allal Al-Qayrawani, a spiritual space with a traditional Sufi dimension, followed by stops at the Jewish Synagogue Ettedgui and the Spanish church Buenaventura, both prominent monuments attesting to the Jewish and Christian presence within the historical record of the city.

The tour also included other landmarks such as the Mosque of Ould L’Hamra, the Mausoleum of Lalla Taja, Ahmed El Beidawi Square, Zanqat Ed-Diwana, and Bab El-Marsa…

These and other sites form an architectural and symbolic landscape that reflects the rich multicultural heritage of Casablanca, embodying noble human values of brotherhood, coexistence, and unconditional solidarity among different groups and ethnicities.

The tour also featured stops at architectural and historical sites with symbolic and social significance, such as Hotel El-Labbadi and Dar Benjelloun, which reflect the history and relational character of noble Casablanca families.

The students also visited the Heritage Center known as the Abdelmalwiya Museum, which contains documents, photographs, and artifacts that preserve the memory of the old medina.

From a socio-psychological perspective, this experimental outing highlights the central role that cultural richness and identity diversity played in shaping social relations and the nature of social interactions among the inhabitants of Casablanca’s old Medina, it stands as an example of the broader Moroccan context, historically characterized by coexistence and respect for others, this context has forged rich social representations interwoven with tangible and enduring cultural symbols that never fade.

Undoubtedly, such outings confront students with the challenge of perceiving the city not merely as a physical space, but as a symbolic environment imbued with values such as diversity, tolerance, and historical continuity.

Experimental observations indicate that such educational experiences may help foster awareness of social diversity and intercultural interaction among younger generations.

Students' reactions were marked by curiosity, wonder, and admiration emotions that suggest these activities can spark reflections on identity, belonging, and higher social values, they also allow for the exploration of emotional, cognitive, and social dimensions among participan

Heritage acts as a medium for understanding human interaction, symbolic representations, and the relationships between individuals and groups, in Moroccan context, heritage is marked by deeply rooted religious and cultural diversity, offering vast opportunities for multidimensional research on how such diversity contributes to the construction of complex and self-reconciled social identities, that can serve as global models for building more cohesive societies grounded in solidarity, openness, and mutual respect.

In conclusion, the Association for the Heritage of the Old Medina of Casablanca(AMP), along with the educators of Atlantide Schools (Ecoles Atlantide), expressed their gratitude to the local authorities for ensuring the success and safety of such outing trips, both local and international, thanking them for their continuous efforts in safeguarding heritage as an inseparable part of the country’s security and stability.

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