Is it ethical to photograph people or give money to children in Morocco?

Let me take the photography part first, because it trips up well-meaning travellers constantly. Many Moroccans, especially in rural areas and among older generations, genuinely dislike being photographed — some for religious reasons, some simply because they're tired of being treated as exotic scenery. So the rule I give without exception is: ask first, and if the answer is no, that's the end of it. A smile and a gesture toward your camera usually communicates the question fine. When someone agrees, you often get a far better, warmer portrait than any stolen candid.

There's a grey zone around payment. In tourist-heavy spots — the snake charmers and water sellers of Jemaa el-Fnaa, for instance — photography is a transaction, and a few dirhams agreed in advance is fair and expected. For an artisan you've spent time with, buying something is the natural courtesy. What I steer people away from is the dynamic where every human becomes a paid photo op; some of the best moments come from putting the camera down entirely.

Now the harder issue: giving money or sweets to children. I understand the impulse completely — a child asks, your heart responds. But please don't. Handing cash to begging children has been shown across many countries, Morocco included, to keep kids out of school and on the streets, because begging becomes more lucrative for the family than education. Sweets damage teeth where dental care is scarce. Pens and trinkets train children to mob the next tourist. However kind it feels, you may be doing real harm.

The constructive alternative is to give upward, not downward — to organisations rather than individual children. Donate to a registered local school, a literacy charity, a children's association; buy from a women's cooperative whose income supports those same families with dignity. I'm always happy to point travellers toward vetted local causes. That way your generosity builds something lasting instead of reinforcing a cycle that, with the best intentions, keeps children poor.