Jordan Times
Thursday, January 22, 2004
Orphans' future security depends on society's commitment, contributions — Hilayel
By Dalya Dajani
AMMAN — Some of them could use their savings to get married, continue their education or establish a business by the time they are 18 — but to assure Jordanian orphans that kind of future security will depend on society's commitment and contributions to see them through.As the initiative's name indicates, the Al Aman Orphans Trust Fund, set up at the Central Bank of Jordan in November, has promised more than 500 orphans the hope for a secure future.
The nationwide campaign, initiated by Her Majesty Queen Rania at the end of Ramadan last year, has since generated JD122,000 in donations by individuals and institutions across the country.
It remains, however, a drop in the bucket for the orphans who will one day need to have security when the time comes to leave their orphanages and make it into the world as adults.
Minister of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs Mohammad Hilayel, who has been designated by the Queen to head the fund's committee, on Wednesday said that the efforts vested by the Jordanian community to acknowledge the plight of the less fortunate were appreciated.
“This campaign has encouraged the community to reach out to every orphan, whether in the city, village, badia, or refugee camp with the promise of assuring them greater security in their adulthood,” Hilayel told reporters yesterday.
“Such generosity draws great favour from God and lessens the pain of a child deprived of the affection of his or her parents,” he added.
The Al Aman campaign, which renders the funds tax deductible, has been carried by the local media in newspapers, radio and television broadcasts since November.
The donations are placed in individual accounts that can only be accessed by the orphans when they turn 18 – the year they must leave the orphanage and make it on their own.
Some of the donors include the Awqaf Ministry, Central Bank of Jordan, the Arab Bank, Jordan National Bank, Jordan Kuwait Bank and Fastlink.
According to the Ministry of Social Development, around 415 orphans and 238 “illegitimate” children are being cared for in state-run institutions.
The orphans are provided with meals, clothing and shelter and pursue their studies as if in a normal home setting under the supervision of staff.
Hilayel yesterday expressed hope that more people and institutions would come forward to ensure the sustainability of funds to serve the orphans' cause.
Efforts are also under way to contact Jordanian embassies abroad to encourage their support of the campaign, he added.
The trust fund, still working out technical procedures and the development of a framework of action to ensure that its role continues, is being overseen by officials from the ministries of awqaf, social development and planning, the CBJ and the Royal Hashemite Court.
The committee is also in the process of considering establishing the trust fund as an independent body serving in the field of child welfare with its board of trustees chaired by Queen Rania.