AMMAN (AFP) – Jordan’s Queen Rania said on Wednesday that the online social network Twitter could help her campaign to promote quality education around the world, including for girls.
“I want to tell people more about Jordan, about my life and work, but also to campaign for quality, global education,” said the wife of King Abdullah II in an interview posted on TechCrunch website.
“Twitter’s one way we can do that. It’s about using social media for social change.”
Rania “twittered” on the online social network about Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to the Holy Land earlier this month which began in Jordan, saying it was a “special day here in Amman; not everyday pope drop s by 4 a visit.”
“Not many people know that there are 75 million children out of school in the world… and two thirds are girls, and there’s just no excuse for that,” she said in the interview.
“We know what to do, we know how to make it happen, but we lack momentum from the masses to push politicians into action. It’s only when we have a critical mass of supporters behind this issue that we will put every child behind a school desk.”
She said the Internet was important for education.
“I believe that if we want our children to understand the world beyond their classroom, we must bring the world into their classroom. And teachers are also part of this equation,” the queen said.
“We’re using the Internet in schools to upgrade their skills, mobilise resources, and encourage joint learning through online communities.”
Last year, Rania made headlines when she launched her own Internet channel on YouTube in a bid to encourage young people to help tackle stereotypes of Muslims and Arabs.
“Social media are a catalyst for the advancement of everyone’s rights. It’s where we’re reminded that we’re all human and all equal. It’s where people can find and fight for a cause, global or local, popular or specialised,” she said.