Advisory Council Meets under Patronage of H.M. Queen Rania
12 May 2004
‘Maximizing the Potential of Arab Youth in the Age of Technology’
May 12, 2004 was an important milestone for World Links Arab Region (WLAR), putting the organization on the map in the Arab World with newspaper headlines. Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan hosted the first WLAR Advisory Council meeting in Amman, Jordan, and was joined by Mrs. Elaine Wolfensohn of the World Bank; Ms. Ghena Hariri and Ms. Rubina Abou-Zeinab, representing H.E. Mrs. Bahia Hariri; and Dr. Nabal al-Idilby and Ms. Nouar al-Shara’a of the Syrian NGO, FIRDOS, representing Syrian First Lady, Asma al Assad. Her Majesty Queen Rania graciously opened the meeting, which was also attended by members of the WLAR Board of Directors and staff, as well as by H.E. Dr. Khaled Toukan, Minister of Education, and Ms. Kristen Hughes, representative of WLAR Founding Partner Hewlett-Packard. Board members included WLAR Founding Partner Mr. Saad Abdul Latif, President of PepsiCo Middle East and Africa; Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman and CEO of TAGO; Dr. Hans Hoyer, Executive Director of World Links headquarters; Mr. Mustafa Nasereddin, UN ICT Arab Network; and Mr. Samer Salty, CEO of Zouk Ventures Ltd. WLAR staff members participating in the meeting included Managing Director Mr. Hady Amr, Director of Development Mr. Akram Baker, and Program Coordinator Ms. Sama Danyal.
The meeting began with a lively discussion among the WLAR Advisory Council, Board, and staff revolving around a strategy for developing the organization. WLAR Board of Directors Chairman Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh graciously facilitated the meeting through its various stages. Mrs. Elaine Wolfensohn of the World Bank spoke about her conviction concerning the importance of the program, stating, “Learning should be creative and should include collaborative interaction in which students and teachers connect to each other to create a community.” Dr. Hans Hoyer gave a PowerPoint presentation about the general mission and activities of World Links worldwide. He was followed by Mr. Hady Amr, who gave an overview of the program operations of WLAR’s expansion throughout the Arab World, particularly in Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, and the opening of the WLAR headquarters in Amman, Jordan. Mr. Akram Baker then facilitated the discussion dealing with the state of fundraising at WLAR.
WLAR members then visited the Sweifieh Girls High School, where they toured the computer lab and discussed projects undertaken by students representing 11 of Jordan’s governorates. Minister of Education Khalid Toukan described the WLAR programs as a model for public - private partnership for effective and advanced learning deployment in line with national efforts to advance information technology and creative teaching in the Kingdom. World Links Arab Region Jordan Coordinator Ms. Hala Taher briefed the audience on WLAR programs undertaken throughout Jordan.
Follow us
