HRH Princess Lalla Asmaa Visits Gallaudet University in Washington, Chairs MoU Signing Ceremony between Lalla Asmaa Foundation & Gallaudet
Washington - Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa, President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, on Friday visited Washington's Gallaudet University, the only institution worldwide solely dedicated to the education of the deaf and hard of hearing from early childhood up to PhD level.
On this occasion, HRH Princess Lalla Asmaa chaired the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Gallaudet University and the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, which reflects Her Royal Highness’s firm and steadfast commitment to improving the livelihoods of deaf and hard-of-hearing children in Morocco, through providing an educational environment that respects their uniqueness, while guaranteeing their full integration into society.
Upon her arrival at Gallaudet University, Her Royal Highness was welcomed by Roberta Cordano, President of Gallaudet University and Karim Essakalli, Deputy President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation.
HRH Princess Lalla Asmaa was then greeted by Azzeddine El Midaoui, Morocco’s Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Naima Ben Yahya, Minister of Solidarity, Social Inclusion and Family, Youssef Amrani, Ambassador of Morocco to the United States of America, Mohamed Methqal, Ambassador and Director General of the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI), Senda Benaissa, Assistant to the President of Gallaudet University, Khadijat Rashid, Dean of Administrative Affairs at Gallaudet University, as well as Amanda Mueller, Africa Program Manager at Gallaudet.
Her Royal Highness was also greeted by two Moroccan students at Gallaudet University, Zahra Ketoun, a PhD student, and Zakaria El Kantaoui, an undergraduate and alumnus of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation.
Subsequently, HRH Princess Lalla Asmaa visited the Sorenson Leaving Center, where Her Royal Highness visited one of the classrooms, learned about students’ academic projects and the quality of teaching at this university, which offers a range of educational and scientific programs adapted to the needs of deaf people.
At the Sorenson Leaving Center, Her Royal Highness also visited the Motion Light Lab, a unique space that utilizes innovative methods and a blend of sign language and visual aids to support the cognitive and linguistic growth of children.
HRH Princess Lalla Asmaa then visited the Student Academic Center, providing facilities adapted to the specific needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing students, including technological tools such as the Communication Access Realtime Translation system.
Later, Her Royal Highness explored the Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center at Gallaudet University, a center of excellence with educational programs adapted to deaf and hard-of-hearing children, from pre-school up to high school.
HRH Princess Lalla Asmaa then attended a teaching session of young deaf children, accompanied by their parents. It was also an opportunity to discover the “Family Learning” approach, which educates parents to be active partners in their children’s linguistic and social development.
HRH Princess Lalla Asmaa visited afterwards the National Deaf Life Museum, where Her Royal Highness chaired the signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between the Lalla Asmaa Foundation and Gallaudet University, inked by the Foundation’s Deputy President Karim Essakalli and President of Gallaudet University Roberta Cordano.
Speaking on the occasion, Essakalli emphasized that the Lalla Asmaa Foundation has endeavored for over fifty years to ensure access of deaf children to a dignified education, to acknowledge their language and culture, as well as to specialized, affordable and sustainable care.
This visit to Gallaudet University, Essakalli added, is a natural step towards this momentum, paving the way for a very large-scale project to create the first university in Africa and the Middle East entirely dedicated to deaf people and deaf-related professions.
He added that this project is part of a wider dynamic promoted by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God glorify Him, aimed at building an inclusive society, where everyone, regardless of any difference, can learn, evolve, thrive and contribute fully to the development of society.
In a similar statement, the President of Gallaudet University affirmed that this Memorandum of Understanding is a statement of mutual respect and recognition, and embodies “our shared commitment to promoting a future of excellence in deaf education in Morocco.”
She also emphasized that the University is honored to be at the Foundation’s side at this historic and auspicious time, particularly with the visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa.
Based on trust and shared values, the relationship between the University and the Foundation highlights the Kingdom’s rich heritage and inclusive vision, while drawing on Gallaudet’s global experience and expertise, said Cordano.
HRH Princess Lalla Asmaa’s visit, marked by fruitful exchanges and strengthened collaboration between the Lalla Asmaa Foundation and Gallaudet University, testifies to Her Royal Highness’s unwavering commitment to the fulfillment of deaf and hard-of-hearing children, in keeping with the Kingdom’s values of solidarity and social justice, upheld by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him.
