Princess Lalla Asmaa, President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, inaugurated on Monday in Meknes the new «Princess Lalla Asmaa» Center, a regional hub of excellence offering comprehensive and entirely free care for hearing-impaired children from surrounding cities and communes. This Center, the third major facility developed by the Foundation after those in Rabat and Tangier, forms part of a national vision that places inclusion, dignity, and equal opportunity at the core of Morocco's development model. It also reflects Princess Lalla Asmaa's longstanding personal commitment, which continues to transform the lives of thousands of children. The new Center supports 56 preschool and primary-level pupils, most of whom have profound hearing loss and require an integrated approach combining education, sign language, speech therapy, and social assistance. In addition, around thirty young trainees are enrolled in vocational workshops offering training in hairdressing, tailoring, sewing, and assistant cooking. These courses are supervised by instructors from the Office for Vocational Training and Employment Promotion (OFPPT) and provide hearing-impaired youth with practical skills to support their entry into the job market. The Center also includes a training room for parents, a speech-therapy unit led by a therapist assigned by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, as well as a sickroom and rehabilitation spaces. Together, these facilities provide holistic support focused on learning, communication, personal development, and psychological wellbeing. A key feature distinguishing the Meknes Center from those in Rabat and Tangier is the presence of a boarding school that accommodates children from remote areas, helping ensure equal access to services. With space for 16 children across eight double rooms, the boarding facility responds to a real need for families unable to manage daily travel, allowing children to benefit from a stable and continuous education. The center also includes a playground, sports field, and adapted outdoor areas, making it not only a place of learning but also a space for socialization and personal growth. The facility will also provide technical follow-up for children who have received cochlear implants. A specialized team will carry out checks, reprogramming, repairs, and replacements to ensure each child benefits from optimal sound perception. During her visit, Princess Lalla Asmaa attended artistic performances in the multipurpose room and later watched a basketball game led by Nezha Bidouane, President of the Royal Moroccan Federation for Sport for All. Through initiatives like this, the Lalla Asmaa Foundation aims to build a structured national network to meet the real needs of hearing-impaired children. This network, which includes inclusive schools and diagnostic centers for infants, is expanding nationwide to ensure equal access to education and medical care, with cochlear implants provided free of charge. Unique in the world, this Moroccan model has now expanded into the MENA region, Africa, and South America, becoming an international reference for inclusive care and early intervention. The new Meknes Center marks another important milestone in efforts to build a country where every child can learn, grow, and fully participate in society.
