A new education, training center dedicated to hearing-impaired children inaugurated in Tangier
A new education and training center dedicated to hearing-impaired children was inaugurated in Tangier Monday by Princess Lalla Asmae, president of the Lalla Asmae Foundation for deaf children.
Built on a covered area of 2,550 m2, the Center includes 20 classrooms, four workshops dedicated to sewing, hairdressing, pastry and IT, five offices, a canteen, and a sports ground. Several other outbuildings will complement the Centre’s activities. The construction of the Center required a total investment of 15 million dirhams (MDH), excluding the cost of land, made available to the Lalla Asmae Foundation, by the Mohammed V Foundation for Solidarity.
“Much more than just a building, this Center reflects our shared vision of inclusion and equal opportunity. It symbolizes our determination to break down communication barriers and open up new perspectives for people affected by deafness,” said the coordinator of the Lalla Asmae Foundation for Deaf Children and Young People, Karim Essakalli, during the inauguration ceremony.
“Thanks to modern equipment, innovative educational programs and the dedication of our team, we are confident that the Tangier Center will become a beacon of hope and transformation in the region,” he said.
On the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony, Princess Lalla Asmae chaired the signing of an agreement relating to the “Awrach” program and a partnership agreement between the Foundation and the Ministry of Youth & Culture.
The first agreement, signed between the Foundation, the Ministry of Economic Inclusion, and the National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills (ANAPEC), aims to offer a paid pre-employment opportunity to deaf trainees in vocational training at the Tangier Centre.
This initiative will allow trainees to benefit from concrete professional experience while continuing their training.
The second agreement provides for financial support of 2 million dirhams granted by the ministry to the Foundation to support projects related to communication, youth and culture.
In addition, the Wilaya of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region has made premises available to the Foundation for the creation of a hearing rehabilitation center, whose mission will be to accommodate local children diagnosed as deaf or hard of hearing during neonatal hearing screening.
Particular emphasis was placed on the vital importance of the collaboration between the Lalla Asmae Foundation, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection and ANAM, which aims to strengthen the Foundation’s capacity to support more effectively deaf and hearing impaired people.
At the same time, Lalla Asmae chaired the launch of a large-scale awareness campaign, called the “White Ear”, aimed at giving a voice to those who are often invisible in society.
This campaign materializes through the free distribution of symbolic pins in the form of white ears, which are specially designed to be pinned on the clothes of hearing impaired and deaf people.
These pins are a discreet but powerful way to communicate a clear message: “I am hard of hearing, please speak to me a little louder, looking at me, slurring and without covering your mouth,” noted Karim Essakalli, pointing out that these pins have a deep meaning and act as a constant reminder of the daily reality of people with hearing loss, while encouraging others to adopt adapted communication behaviors.
“By proudly wearing these pins, the hearing impaired are expressing their desire for mutual understanding and respect,” he noted, adding that “to accompany this campaign, we are also planning a television broadcast of an awareness spot, featuring several committed Moroccan celebrities.”
Subsequently, the Princess presented Excellence Awards to the majors of the 2022/2023 academic year, having obtained their Baccalaureate, Bachelor or Master’s degrees.
