Queen Rania Helps Launch Global Education Campaign

The Queen of Jordan was in Washington, DC to help launch “The Big Read” as part of Global Campaign for Education’s global action week calling for quality basic education for all children.

“The Big Read” is a story book compiled of short stories about education written by such several education advocates including Queen Rania, Natalie Portman, Nelson Mandela, Mary Robinson, Alice Walker and Desmond Tutu.

“This week, millions of children, teachers, adult learners, campaigners and parents around the world will call on global leaders to give every child, everywhere, a quality education,” said Queen Rania.

“Together, we can amplify the many voices asking that we give the 75 million children around the world out of school today the happy ending they deserve – education for all.”

“It’s time for a new chapter in the global illiteracy story,” said the Queen, who is honorary chairperson of Global Action Week.

Queen Rania was joined at a roundtable discussion on education by Congresswoman Nita Lowey, Counsellor to the Secretary of Treasury Gene Sperling, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingartner, US representative to the GCE David Gartner and Gayle Smith, director for African Affairs at the National Security Council.

During the event, Her Majesty expressed hope that “every paragraph pored over, and every page turned, will inspire a reading revolution and amplify the many voices calling for equal access to school and a quality education for all”.

Also at the event was 13-year-old Jessica Markowitz, a “Big Read” US participant and GCE supporter, and Devli Kumari, chosen to represent the voice of child and bonded labourers everywhere for the “Class of 2015: Education for All” campaign in New York last September.

“Every time I pass by a roadside restaurant and see children working, my heart aches and my heart will continue to ache until I help them go to school,” said Devli.

At the end of the conference, both girls joined the Queen to sign the “Big Read” book as a symbol of her continued support for the cause, the statement said.

“We’re here today to say no to global illiteracy and yes to education for all,” she concluded.