In a meeting with Lebanon’s Minister of
Social Affairs:

Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh Launches ‘Eradication of
Digital Illiteracy’ Initiative in Lebanon

Abu-Ghazaleh: Lebanese people will have
free Internet at the knowledge stations in all ministry of social affairs'
community centers

BEIRUT – HE Dr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh,
founder and chairman of Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Global (TAG.Global), asserted that
access to the Internet by all individuals has become a basic human right like
the right to freedom and education as designated by   United Nations
rulings.

In a meeting with Minister of Social
Affairs in Lebanon Mr. Hector Hajjar and the General Director of
the Ministry, Judge Abdullah Ahmad, Dr. Abu-Ghazaleh announced the
launch of an initiative to fight digital illiteracy, under the agreement signed
with the Government of Lebanon, by the establishment of knowledge stations at
all the Ministry’s community centers. 

He explained that the knowledge stations
would be managed on a sustainable revenue-generated basis, and that efforts
will be concentrated on preparing and submitting financing requests to the
funding agencies to carry out digital literacy and training programs for all
Lebanese people.

Therefore, he gave his instructions to
conduct a study to purchase a special Internet line for TAG.Global in Lebanon
to provide Internet to all knowledge stations for free by all users of the
knowledge station services. He also directed the initiation of a preparation
plan to equip the knowledge stations with all their needs in the same way as
previously required by the signed agreement between TAG.Global and the
Lebanese University. 

For his part, Minister Hajjar welcomed Dr.
Abu-Ghazaleh’s initiative, affirming that Lebanon today needs the support of
all its brother countries to overcome the difficult economic and social crisis.

The Minister  stressed that the
Social Affairs Ministry devotes all its resources to work hand in hand with
TAG.Global to make this initiative a success for the benefit of the Lebanese
people.  

He, further, pointed out that since any
grant or donation will need approval from the Prime Ministry, a request will be
submitted for that purpose in the same way as with the agreement signed with
the Ministry of Administrative Development.

For his part, Judge Abdullah Ahmad briefed
the attendees on the services provided by the Ministry to more than 2 million
Lebanese citizens, noting that the Ministry is currently developing its
electronic services and programs as part of the digital transformation plan.