Amidst Royal Cooperation

Amman - Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah escorted Her Royal Highness Princess Hussa Bint Salman Bin Abdul Aziz on a visit to Queen Rania's Family and Child Center located in the neighborhood of Gabel El Naser.

Queen Rania and Princess Hussa listened to a detailed explanation of the integrated services provided by the "safe family" unit in the field of family support. Such services include social psychological counseling, legal advice, health services and other services.

Later they attended a special drama workshop entitled "physical activity". A group of children participated in the workshop as an example of the services provided by the Center in the field of education and training through drama where rhythm is used to express the feelings of children and link them with real situations. This aims to teach children how to express their feelings using body language.

Queen Rania and Princess Hussa also attended an interactive workshop entitled "I and those around me" in which children between the ages of 13 and 15 participated. The workshop gives children the opportunity to express themselves in innovative ways that show their abilities and potential.

They were also shown the family support services line, which includes a hotline service for children and parents who need any type of counseling by phone.

In the Childhood Hall of the Center Her Majesty, Queen Rania, and her Royal Highness, Princess Hussa, listened to a brief history of the Jordan River Foundation (JRF) by Valentina Qussisiya, the General Director of the foundation. Qussisiya pointed out that the foundation was established by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah in 1995. She explained that JRF was a non-profit organization that seeks to promote the dynamism of the Jordanian society by creating and supporting sustainable social, economic and cultural programs. These programs will be based on national needs and priorities and are aimed at empowering communities and individuals through partnership with various entities.

Ms Qussisiya added that JRF focuses on protecting the rights and needs of children through the Jordan River Children Programme, and on empowering individuals through the Community Empowerment Programme.

Furthermore, she noted that JRF aims to export its experience, in the field of comprehensive local development, to Saudi Arabia, in partnership with the Society of Majid Bin Abdul Aziz for Development Social Services.

Dana Dajani, the Director of the "My School" Initiative briefed Princess Hussa on the initiative. Launched by Queen Rania in 2008 within a partnership between the public and private sectors and non-profit organizations, the "My School" Initiative, seeks to modernize five hundred public schools in dire need of upgrading.

Ms Dajani noted that the "My School" initiative led by Her Majesty, Queen Rania, and implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, seeks to improve the learning environment and enhance opportunities for students across Jordan.

She added that the initiative has so far contributed to engaging all sectors of the Jordanian society including public and private sector organizations; in addition youth who have volunteered to beautify schools. The initiative has also managed to engage numerous civil society organizations. Some 200 schools have benefited from the initiative which currently involves a partnership with 80 organizations and companies from the private sector. During the meeting, deaf students who have benefited from the initiative enacted a scene for the visitors.

The Secretary-General of the Supreme Council for Persons with Disabilities Dr Amal Al-Nahas delivered a presentation on the partnership between the "My School" Initiative and the Council, which is an umbrella organization for formulating policies, enforcing legislation and defending the rights of persons with disabilities through coordination and networking with various authorities.

Dr Amal also added that the council's partnership with the "My School" initiative will facilitate providing services and creating a friendly environment for those with special needs, in addition to training the families of disabled students and providing them with a proper cultural education.

Her Royal Highness Princess Hussa also expressed deep gratitude for the outcome of the tour and praised the efforts of Queen Rania's institutions.

Her Royal Highness Princess Hussa said: “During this visit I witnessed the importance of these foundations and programmes, especially those that care for children and students with special educational needs, and with speech and hearing disabilities. The programmes help give them the courage and ability to express their feelings, which in turn improves their self-confidence, and helps to build their character.

In addition, I saw the importance of teaching the child his/her rights and making him/her aware of any harm that might befall them, including that resulting from domestic violence. This includes facilitating the child's ability to get in touch with specialists through the hotline dedicated to this issue.

I would like to stress that such programmes and educational systems, which shape the child’s character and help it blossom, form the fundamental pillars of education. Perhaps the most inspiring thing about these is that they are applied in state funded schools, in line with the fact that special education is the right of every child and indeed of every person”.

Her Royal Highness Princess Hussa added “I was impressed by the way the children were expressing their creativity through simple methods, and by their interest in recycling and the environment. Overall I was very pleased with all that I saw and witnessed during my visit to Jordan, and I hope that our cooperation continues so that we can help the Arab child rise to the highest level and provide him/her with all his/her needs”. 

In collaboration with Princess Hussa's visit, a delegation from the Prince Salman Center for Disability Research also visited Queen Rania's Family and Child Center. The delegation was headed by the Center's CEO, Dr Sultan Al Sedeiry, Deputy Executive Director for Research, Heidi Al-Askary, and Dr Ahmed Bakr, Head of Academic Development and Training at the Center. The delegation was accompanied by Dr Ibrahim Al Sheddy, a member of the Saudi Arabian Human Rights Council, Sahar Al Marzouki, a learning difficulties consultant, Mai Badr, Editor-in-Chief of "Hia" magazine, Tarun Mahrotri, CEO of Gemini Systems (Middle East, Asia & Europe), a company that develops computer systems to assist autistic children, Deborah Basham-Jones, Researcher in the field of Human Rights and Thuraya Al Shehry, a columnist at Al Hayat newspaper.

The visit is a response to an invitation from Queen Rania to Princess Hussa, as a representative of Riyadh's Prince Salman Center for Disability Research - founded with a generous donation from HRH Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, the Disabled Children's Association, headed by HRH Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, and the "Insan" organization, headed by HRH Prince Faisal Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz. Princess Hussa is also a member of the Saudi Arabian Human Rights Commission.