Jordan Times
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Queen recognises success of community empowerment projects
AMMAN (JT) — Her Majesty Queen Rania visited the
Northern Badia on Wednesday to meet with the local community and to recognise
the success of community empowerment initiatives in the area.
Queen Rania witnessed firsthand the incredible power and positive impact that
such projects have on people's lives and their sense of pride and personal
achievement.
The visit focused on the Integrated Livelihood Farm Project (ILFP), which serves
14 village clusters in the Northern Badia. The project was implemented by Jordan
River Foundation (JRF) in coordination with Mercy Corps — an international
relief and development organisation. The ILFP is part of the Rural Community
Cluster Development Programme funded by the Ministry of Planning and
International Cooperation.
Guided by members of the local community, the Queen toured the various
facilities within the 42-dunum ILFP, including production areas for traditional
Beit Shair weaving, a honey processing facility, greenhouses, areas for
sun-drying tomatoes, advanced irrigation systems and a vocational training
centre.
During the visit, the Queen walked into a child protection training course for
mothers at the project and listened as the local women described the benefits of
the training and its positive and qualitative impact on their children and their
family life. Queen Rania also attended parts of a play on physical abuse,
illustrated through the story of Salhouf, one of the creative tools used by the
JRF Child Safety Programme.
The Queen noted that the Child Safety Programme has enhanced public awareness
and has also positioned Jordan as a regional leader in child protection and
safety initiatives.
Queen Rania shared with the local residents her pride and appreciation of their
efforts, noting that as JRF marks its 10th anniversary, it is the community's
achievements and successes that most exemplify the foundation's accomplishments
over the years. She relayed His Majesty King Abdullah's warm regards to them,
reassuring them that their needs and concerns are at the top of his agenda.
Prior to leaving the area, Queen Rania dropped in at the Prince Ali
Comprehensive Secondary School for Girls, where she attended a class and was
briefed on the learning process and the services offered.
The Queen was acquainted with the needs and concerns of the school and the
surrounding village, where she visited a disadvantaged family, who spoke of
their difficulties and the harsh reality of living in poverty.
Queen Rania stressed the need for providing the necessary aid to underprivileged
families in the area as well as renovating the health units of the village
mosque.
JRF's badia project, amongst its many other initiatives, strives to improve
livelihoods of local communities in various sectors including the environment,
tourism, agriculture and civil society.
JRF, founded by Queen Rania in 1995, is a nonprofit NGO whose mission is to
promote, in partnership with stakeholders, the development of a dynamic
Jordanian society by initiating and supporting sustainable social, economic and
cultural programmes that empower communities and individuals based on their
needs and priorities.