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In partnership with the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the National Museums Foundation, the Marrakech City Council and the National School of Architecture in Marrakesh, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) launched its “ICESCO Cultural Week” in Marrakesh, under the theme, “Marrakech: City of Heritage, Art and Culture”. The event is part of the celebration of the Red City as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2024, under the High Patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may Allah assist him.

Held on Saturday, April 20, 2024, at the Museum of Intangible Heritage in Jemaa El Fna Square, the opening ceremony saw the participation of a number of senior officials, academics and high-level figures from the fields of thought, culture and art.

At the outset, Mr. Mehdi Qotbi, Director of the National Museums Foundation of the Kingdom of Morocco, stated that the celebration of Marrakech as Culture Capital in the Islamic World emphasizes the city’s uniqueness, ancient heritage, and cultural elements, which have made it one of the key historical cities in the world. Mr. Qotbi also commended the aspects of cooperation between ICESCO and the Foundation, which yielded remarkable outcomes, notably the Intangible Heritage Museum in Marrakech.

For his part, Dr. Mohamed Zinelabidine, Head of ICESCO’s Culture and Communication Sector, stressed the attention the Organization accords to Marrakech, manifested in its selection as Culture Capital in the Islamic World, to highlight its cultural manifestations, art expressions and tourism potential which has made it an international destination.

The ICESCO official added that the Organization has inscribed a number of Marrakech cultural elements on its Islamic World Heritage Lists, including the Jamaa El Fna Square, Malhun, orange blossom water distillation techniques, and Dakka Merrakshia.

Dr. Weber Ndoro, Director of the Center of Heritage in the Islamic World, stressed the importance of heritage as a major component of human civilization, providing an overview on its elements, development, and role of communities in its promotion and preservation as a legacy for successive generations. Dr. Ndoro also discussed the Organization’s efforts in preserving and promoting the heritage of the Islamic world, casting light on the major projects it implements in cooperation with its Member States.  

Speaking next, Mr. Bilal Chebbi, Dr. Mohamed Aba Ousman and Dr. Idham Muhammad Hanash, experts at ICESCO’s Culture and Communication Sector, gave detailed presentations on the main activities and events of the Cultural Week. They also reviewed the Organization’s programs on museums in Africa and the Islamic world, and highlighted the key features of Marrakech’s architectural heritage, especially Islamic architecture.

Ms. Hanae Jerjou, Governor of Jemaa El Fna in Marrakech and its Museum of Intangible Heritage, gave a presentation on the Museum’s sections and collections, and a tour of its corridors to the audience.

This was followed by the presentation of the book and platform project, “Marrakech, a City of Museums: From History to Cultural Dialogue and Heritage Education”.

Participants in the launch of the ICESCO Cultural Week in Marrakech were introduced to the handmade goods displayed by artisanal shops along the streets and alleys between Jemaa El Fna Square and Dar El Bacha Museum, which the participants visited during their tour. They also took part in a workshop and exhibition organized by ICESCO for young artists in cooperation with the National School of Architecture in Marrakech, moderated by Dr. Sandra Rey, Professor of Art at the University of Rio Grande in Brazil.

The ICESCO Cultural Week features a variety of activities and seminars at the Faculty of Arts and Humanities of Qadi Ayyad University and the National School of Architecture in Marrakech, aiming to highlight the diversity of the Red City’s heritage, the richness of its culture, and the uniqueness of its Islamic architecture.

International Mother Earth Day, held on the 22nd of April of each year, is observed to foster the shared responsibility of all in protecting the Earth against threats that jeopardize its sustainability and achieve a balance between the economic, social, and environmental needs of present and future generations.

On this occasion, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) emphasizes the importance of fostering environmental awareness at regional and international levels and the need to shed light on the detrimental health consequences of environmental degradation. Moreover, ICESCO advocates for the active inclusion of youth and women, harnessing their potential to contribute to the protection of our ecosystems.

In line with this commitment, ICESCO has been developing and implementing several programs and workshops to train local communities in its Member States, particularly youth, women, and environmental specialists. These initiatives are geared towards equipping participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to preserve ecological systems, combat climate change, promote environmental citizenship, and address food security and agriculture challenges through innovative technologies.

Furthermore, the Organization convened several training workshops on smart, sustainable, and resilient cities to tackle the challenges of rational use of natural resources, energy, and water and address the issue of increasing waste and the ensuing air pollution. These efforts aim to improve the quality of life on Earth through the adoption of modern technologies. Additionally, ICESCO has launched the Bio-Waste Food Award, which aims to support entrepreneurs and startups in developing innovative technologies to reduce food waste and its negative environmental impacts.

Following three days of rich discussions and a positive exchange of ideas, the International Seminar on the Status of Girls’ Education in the Arab and Islamic World issued a set of recommendations, at the close of its proceedings on Friday, April 19, 2024, at the headquarters of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) in Rabat. The recommendations focused on establishing gender equality at all levels of education, training educational staff on gender and equal opportunities, and providing psychological, social and financial support for groups affected by poverty, conflicts and social challenges.

The recommendations of the seminar, held by ICESCO and the Arab Women’s Organization, also included calling for strengthening the role of the media in changing the stereotypical image of women, supporting the efforts of governments in developing plans for gender and social protection issues and developing strategies to reform education to suit the multiple societal roles of women. It also recommended expanding their economic rehabilitation programs, especially in rural communities, ensuring wider participation of women in economic, social and cultural activities, calling on states to review education sector budgets, increasing allocations for the development of digital education, and organizing awareness campaigns and educational programs on the importance of learning.

The second and third days of the symposium included five sessions that presented working papers and discussed girls’ education, changing family perceptions, and devising policies to promote girls’ education, counter gender stereotypes in school curricula, and foster girls’ education in conflict and crisis situations.

Afterwards, Dr. Fadia Kiwan, Director-General (DG) of the Arab Women Organization, and Ms. Sally Mabrouk, Director of the Office of ICESCO DG, honored Asmaa Benfassi in recognition of her media efforts in defending women and girls’ issues and highlighting their creative and leadership potential.

At the end of the symposium, honorary shields were exchanged between ICESCO and the Arab Women’s Organization. The symposium participants then toured the International Exhibition and Museum of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently housed at ICESCO’s headquarters.

Each year on April 21st, the world celebrates World Creativity and Innovation Day to stress the crucial role of creativity and innovation in finding sustainable solutions to economic and social challenges, and in adapting to the rapid global transformations. On this occasion, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) sheds light on the importance of creativity and innovation in enhancing international efforts to build thriving, knowledge-based, and culturally diverse societies.

In this context, ICESCO calls for the integration of youth and women and the enhancement of their innovative capacities to broaden societal horizons and accelerate their developmental progress, by providing job opportunities and training, and implementing various initiatives and programs in science and technology.

ICESCO has launched an ambitious program to train youth in establishing small projects in technology and innovation, with the goal of promoting entrepreneurship in the Islamic world and contributing to sustainable and comprehensive development. Launched in 2021 across 19 countries, the program has already supported 54 start-up projects. Its ultimate objective is to reach 150 such companies by the end of 2025, while also enhancing the capacities of over 5,000 entrepreneurs.

The Organization has also introduced an award for converting bio-waste into food bars, aiming to support entrepreneurs and start-ups in developing innovative techniques to maximize the utilization of wasted food.

On the 7th of April of each year, World Health Day is celebrated to raise awareness about various health issues and mobilize efforts to improve healthcare. This year’s theme “My Health, My Right” highlights that access to comprehensive and equitable healthcare is a fundamental right for all.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) sees that celebrating World Health Day is an opportunity to highlight the steps taken in the health field at both regional and international levels, to build a better future for future generations. The Organization calls for the need to utilize the capacities of youth and women in developing and consolidating comprehensive healthcare systems.

On this occasion, ICESCO reaffirms its commitment to contributing to the development of healthcare infrastructure, enhancing scientific research in the field, and finding innovative solutions to address urgent health challenges in Islamic countries. This is to contribute to disease prevention and achieve health equity through initiatives, programs, and projects that employ the latest science and technology.

In this context, ICESCO is actively pursuing the establishment of strategic partnerships to contribute to enhancing healthcare systems in its Member States. The Organization recently signed an agreement with the World Health Organization on March 26, 2024, to collaborate in areas such as strengthening healthcare systems, building the capacity of healthcare professionals, promoting the adoption of digital technologies, and facilitating the exchange of experiences and knowledge. These efforts aim to support Islamic countries in their preparedness and resilience against natural disasters and other threats to public health. Moreover, ICESCO launched several programs aimed at improving water resource management, including the ICESCO program to improve the quality of water and sanitation services in rural schools in several countries of the Islamic world.

Each year on April 6, the world celebrates the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace. This year, it is celebrated under the theme “Sport for the Promotion of Peaceful and Inclusive Societies”, to shed light on the role of sports and physical activity in consolidating the values of coexistence among communities worldwide.

On this occasion, the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) reiterates its commitment to enhancing the role of sports. Seeing sports as a catalyst for social integration, development, and the consolidation of values of coexistence and peace, ICESCO calls on the international community to join efforts in utilizing sports to build inclusive communities capable of withstanding crises.

Recognizing the influential role of sports in promoting dialogue, creativity, and international cooperation, ICESCO has launched the Sports for Social Change initiative, as well as the Sports Diplomacy Program and International Youth Volunteers in Sport Program. Additionally, it organized the first ICESCO forum on Women in Sports to discuss the importance of augmenting women’s participation in sports and inspiring girls to become leaders in this field.

In the last two editions of the ICESCO Marathon in Rabat, over a thousand runners of all ages, including people with special needs, participated to emphasize the significance of investing in sports to improve physical and mental health and achieve prosperity in the Islamic world.

ICESCO’s football program for rehabilitating street children seeks to tackle social inequality and uphold children’s rights by utilizing sports to combat violence and create safe environments for street children.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) is delighted to call for papers for “The Specialized Studies Series in the Field of Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers 2024,” issued by the Center of Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers in support of the Organization’s orientations to promote publishing, consolidate scientific and educational research in the field of the Arabic language, exert efforts to foster its presence at the international scene, and build on linguistic, educational and technological theories to advance this field.

ICESCO invites researchers and specialists to participate by submitting well-grounded applied academic studies likely to contribute to the development of teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers and enrich the Arabic body of knowledge with contemporary and innovative approaches and methods.

Interested parties may apply by submitting a 200-word abstract of the book, a research outline, along with their CVs, and a copy of their passport to the email address, stans@icesco.org, no later than May 1st, 2024. Candidates selected by the jury will be notified within two weeks and will receive an authorship and contract signing invitation.

For more information on the participation requirements and publishing criteria, please visit this link: https://icesco.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/conceptnotearabic2024.pdf

This is the 4th “Specialized Studies Series in the Field of Teaching Arabic to Non-Arabic Speakers,” issued by ICESCO’s Center for Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers. This project has published three scientific series in applied linguistic studies based on the latest theories in linguistics and education science. The participating experts have shared their expertise and contributed to research initiatives and educational practices to train teachers on methods, strategies, and skills, thus enhancing Arabic learners’ linguistic competence, cultural and professional skills.