Amman: Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) and the Queen Rania Foundation (QRF) have signed a cooperation agreement to implement the Iqrali program in the Aqaba governorate. The initiative focuses on promoting early childhood reading and supporting families in fostering early language and cognitive development for children.
According to Jordan News Agency, the agreement was signed by Karimah Dabet, ASEZA's Vice Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, and Bassem Saad, CEO of QRF. During the signing ceremony, Dabet emphasized that the partnership underscores ASEZA's commitment to investing in early childhood as a key element of sustainable development. She noted that encouraging reading habits from an early age equips children with essential knowledge and skills for the future.
Saad highlighted the program's aim to encourage parents and caregivers to integrate reading into their daily routines with children from birth. This practice is expected to support children's linguistic, cognitive, and social development. He also mentioned that the collaboration intends to expand the program's reach to more families in Aqaba, thereby cultivating a culture of early literacy that lays the foundation for lifelong learning.