HRH Princess Lalla Asmaa’s Visit to Gallaudet University Strengthens U.S.-Morocco ‘Excellent Relations’ – El Midaoui
Washington - The visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa to Gallaudet University, the only institution in the world offering education of deaf and hard of hearing people, further strengthens the "excellent relations" between Morocco and the United States, minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Innovation, Azzedine El Midaoui said Friday in Washington.
This visit will “strengthen the excellent relations that have always existed between Morocco and the United States,” El Midaoui told the press, adding that this visit will also help consolidate the distinguished relationship between the Lalla Asmaa Foundation and Gallaudet University, which is recognized as a unique and highly significant experience at the international level.
El Midaoui, who is also a member of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation’s Board of Directors, emphasized that the signing of a letter of intent between the Foundation and this prestigious university will serve to “duplicate, while improving, the Gallaudet experience,” thus enabling Morocco to host a university that provides education, in the same environment, to deaf and hard-of-hearing people.
Speaking on the same occasion, minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family, Naïma Ben Yahia, said that this visit comes as part of the “sustained efforts made by Her Royal Highness, through the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, to support deaf and hard of hearing children and youth.
“The signing of a letter of intent between the Foundation and Gallaudet will enable young deaf and hard of hearing Moroccans to benefit from the pioneering experience of this academic institution, emphasized Ben Yahiya, who also sits on the Foundation’s Board of Directors.
For his part, Morocco’s ambassador to the United States, Youssef Amrani, affirmed that this visit is in itself “an eloquent testimony to the depth, the breadth, and the maturity of the exceptional partnership that unites Morocco and the United States of America.”
Beyond the political convergence and sustained diplomatic relations that punctuate this partnership, the human and social component remains an essential and structuring pillar, Amrani said, emphasizing that, in line with the vision of HM King Mohammed VI, Her Royal Highness has “enriched our interaction with the United States with renewed vigor, confirming and deepening the closeness and commitment between Rabat and Washington.”
In a similar statement, Gallaudet University President Roberta Cordano said: ”we are so proud for this opportunity to share our knowledge and experience not only in providing higher education opportunities, but also in providing support to transform the lives of deaf people in your country, in the region and Africa.”
“The commitment in Morocco is already present,” she said, adding that “Morocco’s history and the country is a gateway to collaborations that can happen throughout Africa.
”For her part, Zahra Ketoun, a Moroccan doctoral student at Gallaudet since 2021, expressed pride in her experience, which taught her “skills, knowledge and support for the deaf communities on a global level”.
The signing of a letter of intent with the Lalla Asmaa Foundation represents “a big step in building a strong foundation of support in access to sign language for the deaf community in Morocco.” She added that this agreement reflects Her Royal Highness’s commitment and strong support for deaf and hard-of-hearing people in Morocco.
Zakaria El Kantaoui, a former student of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, echoed the same sentiment, highly praising the Foundation’s tireless efforts to support deaf and hard-of-hearing youth in Morocco.
“I am a product of the generosity of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation,” said El Kantaoui, who is pursuing his English studies at Gallaudet, adding that he is determined to “return to Morocco after my studies to share my knowledge with the deaf and hard of hearing community.”
