Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa, President of the Rabat Cultural Heritage Preservation Foundation, chaired the Foundation’s Board of Directors meeting today, Monday, attended by its members.
A statement from the Foundation highlighted that Princess Lalla Hasnaa, in her speech, emphasized the institution’s significant achievements during 2022-2023.
Her Royal Highness praised the diligent and ongoing collaboration between the Foundation and its local partners in the fields of culture and national education, focusing on raising awareness among primary and middle school students about the richness of their city’s heritage and the importance of preserving it. This is achieved through educational tools designed to simplify access to cultural heritage concepts, using a flexible and inclusive approach.
The Princess highlighted innovative activities by the Foundation, tailored to specific geographic and historical contexts, such as the educational programs implemented in the city of Taroudant.
She also acknowledged the Foundation’s efforts in fostering international cooperation, particularly the partnership with UNESCO, which has praised the Foundation’s work in promoting culture, art, and education within schools.
Princess Lalla Hasnaa reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to encouraging research in cultural heritage studies and raising public awareness about the importance of heritage through cultural mediation initiatives. These initiatives aim to create a dynamic approach to heritage preservation, involving experts, institutions, civil society, and the general public.
The years 2022-2023 were notably rich for the Foundation, aligning with its mission of education, awareness, and unifying efforts among stakeholders. Educationally, the Foundation continued to implement its programs, « Draw My City’s Heritage » and « Discover My City’s Heritage, » integrating heritage into the learning process. During the second edition of the « Draw My City’s Heritage » program, participants focused on the theme of heritage and climate, while the third edition highlighted intangible heritage through artistic and literary creations.
Participants from primary schools benefited from guided exploratory visits to Rabat’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, led by field experts.
Regarding the « Discover My City’s Heritage » program, its educational content was enhanced with improved activities, visual materials, and exploration routes. These allowed middle school students to engage closely with heritage sites, making the learning process more accessible through a new educational approach centered on art and culture.
In terms of awareness, the Foundation’s « Digitizing Heritage » program worked on digitizing the Kasbah of the Udayas and launched an exclusive virtual tour of the Kasbah. Additionally, it organized the exhibition « Rabat Carpet: A Tapestry of Arts » and a traveling urban exhibition « Rabat: Heritage for Humanity. » The Foundation also produced podcast series documenting collective memory, including « Rabat Stories. »
To unify efforts, the Foundation organized five expert meetings, bringing together numerous local and international stakeholders. They discussed various cultural heritage topics, including « Heritage and Climate Change, » which was a central theme at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28), where the Foundation held two parallel events in the UN-managed Blue Zone.
On this occasion, Her Royal Highness expressed her heartfelt gratitude to all partners for their ongoing support and commitment to the Foundation’s initiatives.
The Foundation’s Board approved the financial statements based on the auditor’s report, confirming that the financial records are accurate and transparent, providing a true and fair view of the financial operations for the fiscal years 2022 and 2023.
Founded by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, the Rabat Cultural Heritage Preservation Foundation aims to safeguard the tangible, intangible, and natural heritage of Rabat. In 2012, the city was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the title: « Rabat, Modern Capital, Historic City: Shared Heritage. »
Under the leadership of Princess Lalla Hasnaa, the Foundation has implemented an ambitious strategy to raise awareness among the residents and visitors of Rabat. Sustainable heritage preservation can only be achieved when the community recognizes and values its importance. The Foundation’s activities are centered around three main pillars: education, awareness, and the unification of efforts.
Rabat’s heritage serves as a powerful lever for social cohesion and inclusion, acting as a driver for social, economic, and cultural development. The Foundation’s awareness-raising activities are aimed at empowering the city’s residents, especially young people, to understand, appreciate, and preserve their heritage.
The Foundation’s programs target all community segments, as well as professionals, institutions, and relevant stakeholders, particularly young people.
Through its educational awareness programs, the Foundation develops educational materials and digital platforms focused on cultural heritage, including the « Digitizing Heritage » initiative. It also organizes workshops, scientific meetings, and invites experts from around the world to share knowledge and promote the preservation of Morocco’s cultural heritage.
The work is carried out through a collaborative approach, combining expertise and resources, and engaging both institutional and public-private stakeholders to emphasize the need to protect the Kingdom’s heritage.
