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Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and H.H. Sheikh Rashed bin Hamdan Al Maktoum, Supreme President of the Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance, awarded prizes to the three winners of the 3rd edition of the Hamdan-ICESCO Prize for Voluntary Development of Education Facilities in the Islamic world.

During the prize awarding ceremony held on Monday, 12 June 2023, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, at the opening session of the International Conference on Lifelong Learning, Dr. AlMalik delivered an address underscoring the exemplary partnership between ICESCO and the Hamdan Foundation and highlighting the significant accomplishments it has garnered, including the prestigious prizes in which numerous education institutions participated.

ICESCO DG also pointed out that the prize is named after the late revered scholar, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, whose remarkable legacy lives on through his sons. He expressed heartfelt gratitude for the invaluable opportunity to collaborate with this esteemed institution and congratulated the deserving winners of the award.

H.H. Sheikh Rashed bin Hamdan Al Maktoum highlighted that this celebration where enlightened thought and unwavering principles converge, symbolizes a shared vision for prosperous Islamic societies with advanced educational systems.

He also expressed his delight at the partnership with ICESCO and the accomplishments achieved, whether through the Hamdan-ICESCO Fund or the remarkable performance of the award with positive growth rates and increased participation from countries.

In his address on behalf of the winners, H.H. Prince Mansour bin Saad Al Saud, Assistant Secretary-General of the King Faisal Foundation, emphasized that receiving the prestigious award would serve as a compelling catalyst for the winning institutions to intensify their efforts and further develop educational facilities, enhance the quality of education and foster greater enlightenment and educational advancement in the Islamic world.

H.H. Prince Mansour bin Saad Al Saud, Assistant Secretary-General of the King Faisal Foundation, received the award on behalf of the Alfaisal University project, Mr. Mustafa Al-Sayed, Secretary-General of the Royal Humanitarian Foundation in the Kingdom of Bahrain, received the award on behalf of the Kingdom’s Scientific Complex project, and Mr. Richards Horwitz, Executive Director of the Family Educational Services Foundation (FESF), in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, for the “Deaf Reach Schools” project.

It is worth noting that the third edition of the award garnered 37 entries representing 18 countries worldwide, and it is aimed at encouraging outstanding and sustainable educational initiatives and recognizing individuals and institutions leading charitable and voluntary efforts in the field of education.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and His Highness Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Supreme President of the Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation for Distinguished Academic Performance, chaired, on Monday, June 12, 2023, the official inauguration ceremony of the ICESCO-Hamdan Bin Rashid Arabic Language Center of the Network System for Non-Arabic Speakers “MESHKAT” at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat. The ceremony was attended by Dr. Chakib Benmoussa, Minister of National Education, Primary Education and Sports of the Kingdom of Morocco, a delegation of representatives from the Hamdan Foundation and several senior officials and ambassadors.

During the inauguration ceremony, the attendees listened to an introductory presentation and watched a video about the MESHKAT Network System. The ceremony was broadcasted live to a number of education officials and representatives of educational and university institutions benefiting from the System in several ICESCO Member and non-Member States, who expressed their thanks for the inauguration of this great training platform in the field of Arabic language learning.

Afterward, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the System’s working mechanisms, pointing out that it relies on the use of the latest visual communication tools to reach the largest possible number of educational officials working in the field of teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers in many countries of the world in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner. He added that the MESHKAT Network System succeeded in training educational professionals in 34 countries during its pilot phase.

The ICESCO-Hamdan bin Rashid Platform, “MESHKAT, is an e-training system in the field of Arabic for non-Arabic speakers, based on networking and linking its center at ICESCO Headquarters and external centers, national training poles and educational and university institutions in the Member States and abroad. The Network System capitalizes on modern communication tools and educational technology to provide continuous and regular educational training services for workers in the field of teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers, to contribute to the professional development of large numbers of Arabic language teachers for non-Arabic speakers in various parts of the world.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), presented Mr. Mohamed Mehdi Bensaïd, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication of the Kingdom of Morocco, with an honorary shield in appreciation of his outstanding efforts in supporting culture, safeguarding cultural heritage and promoting communication and cooperation.

At the outset of the ceremony, held on Sunday, 11 June 2023, in ICESCO’s pavilion at the Rabat International Book Fair, Dr. AlMalik, expressed his gratitude to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him, for granting his patronage to the 28th session of the fair, hailing his steadfast commitment to supporting cultural, communication and youth-oriented activities.

ICESCO DG congratulated Minister Bensaid on the resounding success of the fair, emphasizing the visible satisfaction of the exhibitors and visitors alike. He extended his heartfelt thanks to the Minister and all those involved in organizing the event, particularly the Ministry of Culture and the organizing partners, for their invaluable support to the Organization’s pavilion.

Dr. AlMalik noted that this tribute to Mr. Bensaid is a recognition of his unwavering support and the Ministry’s significant contributions to cultural issues, as well as his endeavors in preserving heritage and fostering collaboration between the Ministry and the Organization.

He also reiterated ICESCO’s commitment to working closely with Member States, including the Kingdom of Morocco, in addressing cultural issues and promoting the protection of cultural heritage across the Islamic world.

In his address at the event, Minister Bensaid acknowledged ICESCO as a pivotal partner in the fields of culture, youth and communication and reaffirmed the Ministry’s keenness to sustain cooperation with the Organization through the joint implementation of various programs and activities as part of the celebration of Marrakesh as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2024.

As part of its pavilion at the International Publishing and Book Fair in Rabat, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), on Saturday (June 10, 2023), honored several talented people with disabilities, who overcame difficulties and had inspiring experiences in which they turned challenges into a motivation for success and creativity.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, was keen to participate in these activities, listen to those innovators, talk to them and present them with memorial shields and certificates of appreciation.
The activities included a meeting with Samia Hajeb, student at the Economics Department at Mohammed V University in Rabat, who shared her academic path and the difficulties she faced due to her disability, stressing that those people have great capacities that enable them to succeed in various fields of life. She thanked ICESCO for giving her the opportunity to share her experience and make the voice of the people with disabilities heard.

The pavilion also hosted a plastic arts workshop for the benefit of a group of children from Lalla Asmaa Foundation for Deaf Children and Youth, during which they drew a number of artistic paintings, showcasing their ability to express themselves in various artistic forms.

Afterward, ICESCO Director-General handed an honorary shield to Samia Hajeb in appreciation of her efforts and successes, and presented children with disabilities from Lalla Asmaa Foundation for Deaf Children and Youth with certificates of appreciation. He thanked the Foundation and the parents of the children, stressing that hosting those children is one of the best moments at ICESCO’s pavilion.

ICESCO’s pavilion started its activities with a presentation by Mr. Aziz Al-Hajir, Programs Manager at ICESCO Education Sector, on the Organization’s educational initiatives for eradicating women’s illiteracy and social and economic rehabilitation for women, followed by a presentation by Dr. Muhammad Aba Osman, Expert at ICESCO Culture and Communication Sector, on the major outputs of ICESCO International Conference on Preserving Cultural Heritage in the Lake Chad Basin.

The pavilion programme also included an intellectual dialogue with Dr. Ahmed Ismaili, on his book “Arabic Rhetoric and Western Rhetoric: Expression and Metaphors,” moderated by Dr. Mohamed Al-Jarti, Professor at Ibn Tufail University in Kenitra.

The following activity featured the presentation of the results of the opinion poll on “the best books for children,” which was implemented throughout the Book Fair days, within the framework of ICESCO’s Children Digital Library Project. The winners in the poll received tablets.

The pavilion concluded its activities with a workshop for children, moderated by Dr. Hassan El-Hajjami, Expert at ICESCO Human and Social Science Sector, which tackled the topic of “Bullying: Prevention and Awareness Activities.”

As part of the “Interviews for the Future” initiative, launched by the Strategic Foresight Center of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), the Organization hosted Mr. Andre Azoulay, Advisor to His Majesty King Mohammed VI, King of the Kingdom of Morocco, at its headquarters in Rabat on Friday, 9 June 2023. During the event, Mr. Azoulay delivered a lecture emphasizing the factors necessary for shaping the future and the importance of preserving identity and educating the younger generation on the values of coexistence and acceptance of diversity as sources of strength, drawing on Morocco’s experience in this context.

The event, which saw the presence of high-level officials, ambassadors and academics, began with welcoming remarks by Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General (DG), where he expressed his gratitude to Mr. Azoulay for accepting ICESCO’s invitation to address this critical issue, which holds special significance in the Organization’s forward-looking vision and strategic orientations.

Dr. AlMalik explained that this intiative aims to develop ideas that will shape our collective future by adopting a forward-looking perspective and equipping today’s youth with the essential skills required to successfully meet future challenges.

In his concluding remarks, the ICESCO DG reaffirmed the Organization’s commitment to promoting a culture of lifelong learning, noting that the declaration of ICESCO’s Year of Youth represents a significant milestone in ICESCO’s transformative journey. He also highlighted the concept of “civilized diplomacy,” which represents a major area of interest for ICESCO as it underscores the mutual influence between strategy and civilization.

Dr. Kais Hammami, Head of ICESCO’s Strategic Foresight Center, provided an overview of Mr. Azoulay’s distinguished background, accomplishments and notable responsibilities. Mr. Azoulay then commenced his lecture by expressing his gratitude to ICESCO and its Director-General for providing him with the opportunity to share a set of ideas he has developed over his extensive career.

He underlined that we currently live in a time when nations are grappling with crises characterized by philosophical and moral decline, as well as personal and societal challenges, noting the diverse manifestations of extremism that have emerged. In this context, he pointed to the Kingdom of Morocco as a success story in the field of coexistence and cultural diversity, emphasizing the country’s flexibility and openness.

Furthermore, Mr. Azoulay stressed that pluralism and diversity are essential for achieving social modernity, highlighting Morocco’s commitment to promoting a dynamic approach that embraces all races, religions and civilizations.

Addressing civilized diplomacy, the Advisor to the emphasized the emergence of new concepts in recent years, which represent an evolution of traditional diplomacy, as a response to the world’s ongoing crises and tragedies, and underscored the importance of education in effectively addressing economic and social challenges.