Launched in Casablanca in January 2024 after two years of field research, the NAFASS programme offers a concrete response to a dual challenge: integrating young people distanced from the job market and addressing the labour shortage in the hospitality sector. Through hands-on training and tailored social support, the project provides real opportunities to a generation seeking a better future.
The three-month training, followed by a one-month company placement and a year of follow-up support, is designed to meet the needs of a sector where demand for skilled workers is high. Participants are trained in restaurant roles – such as kitchen or dining assistants – in real-life conditions at a public-facing training restaurant. Achieving a 95% satisfaction rate since its lunch.
But NAFASS goes beyond technical skills – it helps rebuild confidence and independence in young people who are often marginalised and have lost faith in themselves. By favouring small cohorts and personalised support, the programme nurtures engagement and solidarity.
Most of the young people trained through NAFASS face economic hardship and have been disconnected from school or the workplace for some time. One of the programme’s greatest strengths lies in its holistic approach to integration. Far beyond technical training, NAFASS addresses key barriers to employment: mental health, poverty, addiction, language difficulties, lack of professional networks, and challenges imagining a long-term career path.
To tackle these, each young person benefits from tailored support to stabilise their social situation and develop soft skills – including stress management, French classes, communication, professional posture, and understanding workplace rights and responsibilities.
Learning is grounded in core principles: the right to make mistakes, shared responsibility, and real-world immersion. Under the guidance of experienced chefs and dedicated teams, participants benefit from a caring yet demanding environment that drives progress. The programme includes role-playing sessions, technical workshops, and employer meet-ups, anchoring young people in the professional world and helping them adapt to the sector’s demands.
Beyond mastering technical skills and workplace behaviour, NAFASS is built on strong values of solidarity. During Ramadan, the young people prepare and deliver 120 ftours each day to those in need, in partnership with a local organisation that distributes them during outreach or in retirement homes. “This experience fills them with pride and reinforces their sense of purpose,” explains Catherine, the programme director.
The impact of NAFASS is best seen in the journeys of its beneficiaries. One such example is Anas, who arrived without financial resources or self-esteem. Thanks to the programme’s support, he overcame his difficulties and joined a renowned restaurant in Casablanca. Today, he is progressing in his career and supporting his family. “NAFASS brought light into my life,” he says.
Other stories echo this transformation. Adam, who had dropped out of school early, rebuilt both his professional and personal life with the help of tailored support. Ghita regained her self-confidence and discovered a renewed motivation for her future.
With an 80% employment rate and less than 3% dropout rate in the first cohort, the results speak for themselves. Far from standardised approaches, NAFASS is an inclusive programme that promotes social diversity and inclusion, welcoming both Moroccan nationals and refugees – thanks to a partnership with the UNHCR. “The door is always open here – former students or local restaurant chefs often pop in just for a chat,” says Catherine. This sense of community is a cornerstone of the programme : former and current students, chefs and trainers all help build a dynamic and supportive ecosystem. The bonds are strong.
Learn more about Groupe SOS’s initiatives for people distanced from employment
Learn more about Groupe SOS’s initiatives for young people in difficulty
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