Jordan Times
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Queen reinforces importance of awareness, prevention programmes in spreading 'child safety' culture
AMMAN (JT) — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Tuesday
reinforced the importance of awareness and prevention programmes in creating and
spreading a culture of child safety in Jordan and the Arab world.
During a visit to the Queen Rania Family and Child Centre (QRFCC) yesterday, the
Queen joined a group of children aged six to eight, participating in a drama
workshop. The children were working on identifying feelings and expressing those
feelings using audiovisual stimulants.
Queen Rania also joined a group of girls and boys aged between 15 and 18, from
both public and private schools, in a discussion pertaining to “accepting
differences through understanding ones self.”
The event focused on teaching the youngsters to work on strengthening their
inner selves, as well as developing their conflict resolution skills, enabling
them to deal with variables that might affect their lives and encouraging them
to communicate better.
The QRFCC is pioneering an innovative approach of providing comprehensive
services to combat child abuse. The centre is the first of its kind in the Arab
world to adopt an original Jordanian/Arab approach in developing services, which
are tailored to suit the needs and distinctiveness of the culture, making it a
potential future hub for training professionals across the region.
It also adopts an ecological holistic approach in the development and provision
of its programmes to address the multiplicity of factors that cause abuse and
provide solutions that meet the requirements of differing situations.
The awareness and training programmes offered at the centre seek to strengthen
the family unit, spread awareness about developmentally appropriate practices,
and empower parents and children with the knowledge they need to avoid abuse.
The centre, established by the Jordan River Foundation's (JRF) Child Safety
Programme, is located in the underprivileged area of Jabal Al Nasser, in east
Amman. Populated with over 200,000 inhabitants (around 33,000 families), Jabal
Al Nasser represents an area of multiple risk factors in relation to child
abuse, such as poverty, high unemployment, overpopulation, lack of basic
services and poor social status.
However, the QRFCC's services are offered to communities throughout Jordan and
not confined to this specific area. Awareness lectures and training workshops
are held in all parts of the Kingdom, targeting local community members,
education, health and law enforcement professionals, ministry employees as well
as religious leaders.
Last year, awareness sessions were conducted in all the Kingdom's governorates,
with a total of 763 professionals attending 46 training workshops and 5,943
citizens benefiting from 131 awareness lectures held in local communities.
Over 3,227 children participated in training programmes held at the QRFCC's
facilities, and over 1,472 benefited from presentations of “Salhouf,” the
awareness puppet-show specifically designed for children.
Inaugurated by Queen Rania in July last year, the centre provides services to
families under risk, including early childhood development units, a computer
lab, interactive library and kitchen, along with recreational activities
promoting child safety awareness through art, drama and music.
The Greater Amman Municipality has donated the adjoining piece of land, which
was an unused garden, to build a sports centre for girls between the ages of
12-22. The facility will provide these girls with a safe environment to spend
their free time. Part of the donation was done with the help of La Voix de
L'enfants.
The JRF Child Safety Program's future plans include establishing a free
counseling service later this year. This service will offer families
professional consultation regarding child safety issues free of charge.