Queen Rania attends Mentor Arabia fundraising dinner supporting youth empowerment programmes

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania attended a fundraising dinner for Mentor Arabia in Amman on Tuesday in the presence of Her Majesty Queen Silvia of Sweden, president of Mentor International, and His Royal Highness Prince Turki Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz, chairman of Mentor Arabia.

Held under the patronage of Queen Rania, the fundraiser supported Mentor Arabia’s work in the field of youth empowerment, with proceeds going toward the implementation of its awareness and prevention programmes and projects in Jordan and the Arab World.

The event was attended by more than 450 guests from around the world, including several members of the Royal Family and a number of ministers and diplomats operating in Jordan, according to a statement from Her Majesty’s office. 

Mentor Arabia, a regional branch of Mentor International, is a nongovernmental organisation that aims to empower children and youth to lead healthy lives and make sound decisions. Established in 2006, Mentor Arabia opened its official Jordanian office earlier this month.  

Speaking at the event, Her Majesty Queen Silvia expressed her delight at the establishment of the Mentor Jordan chapter. She also praised Mentor Arabia’s work developing the capacities of children and youth to prevent them from engaging in risky behaviours such as drug, alcohol and tobacco use, stressing the organisation’s efforts to improve youth mental health through awareness programmes.

In his remarks, His Royal Highness Prince Turki Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz presented highlights from Mentor Arabia’s 15-year journey, through which the organisation has provided opportunities for Arab children and youth to develop their self-confidence and confront all forms of risky behaviours.

Mentor Arabia executive director, Thuraya Ismail, emphasised the organisation’s mission, saying, “The essence of everything we do is to make a positive impact on the lives of children and youth through our targeted awareness programmes and our effective partnerships with governments, the private sector, international organisations, media and academic institutions, and others.”

The event included the announcement of the winners of the third edition of the Mentor Arabia Youth Social Entrepreneurs Award, in partnership with Zain Jordan, Al Jude for Scientific Care, and The Netherlands-based TUI Care Foundation, which spotlights youth achievements in the fields of humanitarian and social development. In collaboration with the Crown Prince Foundation, the award winners will offer mentoring sessions to their Jordanian peers, aiming to inspire and motivate them to give back to their communities.

Hosted by media personality Rabia Al Zayyat, the fundraiser included performances by Lebanese musician Michel Fadel, Egyptian Singer Abu, Jordanian singer Nadine Tayseer, and French artist Dieze, accompanied by the Amman Chamber Orchestra.

Mentor Arabia is a regional branch of Mentor International, a global non-governmental organisation established by Queen Silvia of Sweden in 1994, with national chapters in Europe and the United States.

In partnership with the Ministry of Health, Mentor Arabia has collaborated with the Royal Health Awareness Society on its Generations Protected initiative, spreading awareness on protecting children and youth from the dangers of addiction.