RI humanitarian makes Moroccan headlines

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 3/10/15

One Rhode Islander, Justin Bibee, is making international headlines in Morocco for his humanitarian work with the Peace Corps. Just this year he founded the People’s Advocate Council, a non-profit …

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RI humanitarian makes Moroccan headlines

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One Rhode Islander, Justin Bibee, is making international headlines in Morocco for his humanitarian work with the Peace Corps. Just this year he founded the People’s Advocate Council, a non-profit centered on raising awareness for human rights throughout the communities of Morocco.

Bibee grew up in Cranston, graduating from Cranston High School East in 2006. As a first generation college student, Bibee went on to the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), earning an associate’s degree in law enforcement and then received his bachelor’s degree in justice studies from Rhode Island College in 2012.

Throughout his education, Bibee had been an active volunteer, working at local soup kitchens throughout high school and then holding food and clothing drives while at CCRI.

Bibee, still living in Morocco, wrote in an email that it was his volunteering and interacting with the homeless that “opened his eyes.”

“Learning about poverty is what truly led me to school and the path that I am on now,” Bibee said. “There are solutions to poverty. We can rid this world of poverty, but still it remains.”

It was at RIC he became invested in working towards international human rights. He continued his education at World Learning’s Graduate School for International Training (SIT), where he earned his master’s in peacebuilding and conflict transformation.

With SIT Bibee was a part of the Master’s International program, where students can earn their degrees while serving in the Peace Corps. He has earned a certificate from the United States Institute of Peace and Conflict Analysis, Negotiation and Conflict Management.

In 2013 he began a fellowship with Advance Humanity, “an international humanitarian consulting organization.”

Through all of his volunteerism Bibee was awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a national award by the Office of President Barack Obama and was named an ambassador of peace as well.

“With human rights issues happening around the world and millions of people living below the poverty line, I knew I wanted to be part of the solution,” Bibee said.

With the Peace Corps Bibee traveled to Morocco in North Africa, where he works as a youth development volunteer teaching English. He is in his second year stationed there.

He said, “My first year in Morocco I focused my attention and energy working in the classroom teaching English. I also wrote a guide on how to teach human rights in the classroom designed for educators and human rights advocates. I am now focusing most of my energy and time on a nonprofit I founded in Morocco, People’s Advocate Council [PAC].”

PAC, which Bibee founded this year, using “community development projects,” raises awareness for people’s rights.

The non-profit self-advocacy organization is “made up of the people, by the people, for the people. Our council consists of human rights professionals, community development specialists, educators and scholars,” said Bibee.

Bibee thinks the success of this non-profit comes with the direct communication with the people of the community to address their biggest concerns and connecting them with volunteers and advocates who want to help.

With a network of advocates, PAC gives the community a method through which to voice their concerns in a safe environment, making a difference in the community by addressing those concerns with various volunteer opportunities.

One of the projects by PAC got a group of volunteers to clean up trash around playgrounds and schools while simultaneously planting trees.

In recognition of International Women’s Day, which was March 8, PAC is hosting a free “gender development advocate training” throughout the month to discuss young girl’s and women’s right to education.

The non-profit, still in its early stages, has already made headlines in Moroccan newspapers.

Bibee said, “Our vision is changing the community together. Our mission is to create better living standards for the people of the community by continuously implementing community development projects that will positively affect the community, its people and its environment.” 

The first council began in the city, Sidi Kacem.

“We will grow community by community into a powerful nationwide movement of advocates for the people,” Bibee said. “We will then connect with our international networks and grow into a worldwide movement.”

He said that more than anything the friendships he is creating and the people he is able to help are the most rewarding experiences of being abroad.

He said, “One of the happiest days in Morocco for me was when a little girl ran up to me in a neighborhood as I was walking to my friends house, shook my hand, and said “Salam usted” [Hi, teacher] and ran away. I smiled for the rest of the day.”  

Despite all of Bibee’s traveling, he said that the values and support he has received from friends and family here in Rhode Island follows him wherever he goes.

“My mom taught me to be kind to people and my dad taught me how to carry myself – stand up straight, shake hands well. My parents did a great job at raising me. Because of them I am unstoppable. My sister is my best friend. She encourages and supports me more than anyone,” he said.

Bibee is working on various projects while abroad as well. Most notably, he is just finishing up what he terms a “side project” of building a school in Pakistan, in an area of Pashawar, with his friends abroad. The project is finishing up after just over a year. The school is scheduled to open next month.

Bibee is stationed in Morocco through 2016, but after his work with the Peace Corps and the completion of his master’s he wants to continue his education and pursue a law degree with a focus on international human rights law.

For more information or to find out ways you can help, visit www.peoplesadvocatecouncil.weebly.com. For more information on Bibee and the work he has done visit www.advancehumanityfellows.com/juston.html.

UPSTANDING CITIZEN: Justin Bibee, who grew up in Rhode Island, is pictured in front of a class teaching students English. As a Youth Development Volunteer with the Peace Corps, Bibee works with students while stationed in Morocco. (Submitted photo)

INTERNATIONAL WORK: Justin Bibee, pictured next to the American and Moroccan flags, has always been interested in humanitarian work, beginning in Rhode Island where he would volunteer at local soup kitchens. (Submitted photo)

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