Queen Rania UNICEF’s Advocate for Children

Named Eminent Advocate for Children at the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in 2007, HM Queen Rania of Jordan plays an important part in calling the attention of the international community and of the media to the challenges that children and adolescents face, especially with regard to education.

Last week the Queen was accompanying her husband, King Abdullah II of Jordan, during his first official visit to Chile, Argentina and Brazil.

Visiting (October 21 2008) the Escuela Bisica El Salitre School which serves one of the most underprivileged communities in Santiago, Queen Rania was eager to hear about how the government has committed itself to education reform across the country. Her Majesty was briefed on the ENLACES program, which concentrates on providing schools with technology so that it becomes part of the curriculum and teaching tools.

The program, which focuses on language, science and math, aims to motivate students to learn in a more interactive style and to give teachers multiple resources to address the learning styles of different students.

Speaking about similar experiences in Jordan with the Jordan Educational Initiative, the Queen noted that “the challenge isn’t just putting technology in the classroom but using that technology to transform the learning experience of students“.

Children at a UNICEF-supported school in Buenos Aires, Argentina received a royal visitor on October 23, when Queen Rania dropped by at the Paula Albarracín de Sarmiento school. There she learned about a new programme that allows teachers, administrators and families to self-evaluate educational practices, and make quick changes when improvements are needed.

„The job of reforming education is one that never ends,“ said Queen Rania. „It is one that involves all partners. Teachers, students, families, communities, the government – even the private sector has to be involved in the process.“

Queen Rania also visited Vila Madalena neighbourhood, in São Paulo, on October 24. The queen learnt about the activities developed by the program, which proposes a „school for life“ and works to fulfil the needs of children, of the family and of the community, recognising that education is more than knowing how to read and write.

„Children do not only have the right to learn. They have the right to be prepared to become active and productive citizens.“


About UNICEF

UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.