Marrakech – Princess Lalla Asmaa, President of the Lalla Asmaa Foundation, inaugurated on Monday the new “Princesse Lalla Asmaa” Center in Meknes, a regional institution dedicated to providing fully comprehensive and completely free support for deaf and hard-of-hearing children from the city and surrounding communes.
This new facility is the third major structure the Foundation has developed under its inclusive model, following its centers in Rabat and Tangier. It forms part of the enlightened vision of King Mohammed VI, which places inclusion, dignity, and equity at the heart of the country’s development.
The center also reflects Princess Lalla Asmaa’s long-standing humanitarian commitment, which continues to transform the lives of thousands of children across the Kingdom.
It currently supports 56 pupils ranging from preschool to sixth grade. Most of the children have profound hearing loss, requiring a holistic approach that combines schooling, sign language instruction, speech therapy, and social support.
In addition, 30 young people are enrolled in vocational training programs in hairdressing, sewing and tailoring, or culinary assistance.
Delivered by trainers from the Office of Vocational Training and Employment Promotion (OFPPT), these workshops equip deaf youth with professional skills to facilitate their entry into the job market.
The center also includes a parents’ training room, a speech therapy unit staffed by a specialist assigned by the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, an infirmary, and rehabilitation spaces.
Together, these facilities ensure full support covering learning, communication, personal development, and psychological assistance.
Unlike the Rabat and Tangier centers, the Meknès facility includes a boarding house designed to accommodate children from remote communes.
The internat, comprising eight double rooms and hosting up to 16 children, addresses mobility challenges facing rural families and ensures stable, continuous schooling regardless of distance.
The center also features a playground, a sports field, and outdoor areas adapted for children, making it not only a learning environment but also a space for socialization and personal growth.
The new center will additionally provide technical follow-up for children equipped with cochlear implants. A specialized team will handle device checks, reprogramming, repairs, and replacements, ensuring optimal auditory perception and helping each child fully benefit from their implant.
During the visit, Princess Lalla Asmaa attended artistic activities in the multipurpose hall and later watched a basketball match led by Nezha Bidouane, President of the Royal Moroccan Federation of Sport for All.
Through initiatives like this center, the Lalla Asmaa Foundation continues to develop a national network tailored to the real needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing children.
With support from inclusive schools, diagnostic centers for infants, and free cochlear implant coverage, this territorial model has become internationally recognized. Unique in the world, it is now being expanded across the MENA region, Africa, and South America, inspiring 21 countries.
The Meknes center stands as a new milestone in building a Morocco where every child can learn, grow, and find their place.
Upon her arrival on site, Princess Lalla Asmaa reviewed a detachment of the Auxiliary Forces before being greeted by Mohamed Saad Berrada, Minister of National Education, Preschool and Sports, Naima Ben Yahya, Minister of Solidarity, Social Integration and Family; and Khalid Ait Taleb, Wali of the Fez-Meknes region.
