Princess Lalla Asmaa, El Salvador's First Lady Pay Visit to Lalla Asmaa Foundation
Moroccan Foundation for Deaf Children Welcomes El Salvador's First Lady
Princess Lalla Asmaa Hosts Gabriela Rodríguez de Bukele for Insight into Innovative Inclusive Programs
Rabat, Morocco – Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Asmaa, President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, welcomed Gabriela Rodríguez de Bukele, the First Lady of El Salvador, to the Foundation's headquarters in Rabat on Monday. The visit aimed to foster collaborative efforts and share expertise on initiatives promoting the inclusion of deaf children.
During her tour, the First Lady of El Salvador witnessed firsthand the comprehensive model adopted by the Lalla Asmaa Foundation. The institution seamlessly integrates cutting-edge medical care, rehabilitation services, specialized education, psychosocial support, and family training programs.
Highlights of the visit included exploring the Foundation's summer camp, which offers a range of enriching activities like pottery, diorama creation, sculpting clay, aerobics classes, English and American Sign Language (ASL) lessons, remedial classrooms, high-tech workshops, and speech therapy sessions.
Princess Lalla Asmaa and Mrs. Rodríguez de Bukele were introduced to innovative technological advancements aiding the learning process. These included a robot designed to facilitate sign language acquisition and an AI-powered speech therapy application. This platform assists speech therapists in assessing, monitoring, and rehabilitating children through interactive tools. It also supports families with games and exercises tailored for at-home use, fostering the development of children's language, listening, and communication skills based on scientific and clinical data.
International Collaboration and Humanitarian Impact:
The Lalla Asmaa Foundation's humanitarian approach extends beyond its borders. Twenty deaf children from El Salvador will soon benefit from Moroccan expertise in hearing impairment care through an initiative spearheaded by the Foundation. This adds to the 800 Moroccan children and 240 children from 21 countries across Africa and the Middle East who have received surgeries and support from the Foundation since the launch of its NASMAA program in 2002.
The Foundation has further solidified its international reach through a strategic partnership with Gallaudet University in Washington, a global leader in higher education for deaf people. This collaboration focuses on developing new research, training, and exchange programs.
Empowering Future Generations:
Mrs. Rodríguez de Bukele also learned about the Foundation's strategic partnerships, including three landmark agreements signed last June. These agreements aim to strengthen digital inclusion, professional integration, and scientific cooperation, reflecting the Lalla Asmaa Foundation's commitment to supporting young people beyond schooling by providing them with access to future digital skills, facilitating their professional integration, and fostering academic and scientific collaboration.
The visit concluded with talks between HRH Princess Lalla Asmaa and the First Lady of El Salvador at the Foundation's headquarters. They were accompanied by prominent Moroccan officials, including members of the Foundation's Board of Directors and representatives from both countries.