Queen Rania celebrates birthday today

AMMAN (JT) — Thursday the 31st of August marks the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Rania, capping off another year of tireless dedication to enhancing Jordan’s social development and international standing, a statement from Her Majesty’s office said. 

Queen Rania “derives her resolve [from] His Majesty King Abdullah II, contributing day in and day out to national and international efforts that prioritise education reform, community empowerment, fighting extremism, and supporting destitute refugees”.

Over the course of the past year, Her Majesty has continued working towards the advancement of Jordan’s social progress at all levels, building on her various partnerships with local and international institutions to further her enduring vision for the empowerment of youth, innovators, and the vulnerable.

Education reform remains one of the focal points of her many initiatives. Queen Rania’s efforts in this field highlight the role education plays in strengthening societies and perpetuating the cycle of sustainable development.

Her Majesty stays abreast of Jordan’s evolving educational landscape through regular field visits to schools across the country, “gleaning insights from expert research and the testimony of students, teachers, and parents”. 

One educational milestone that Her Majesty is particularly proud of this year is the launch of the Teacher Education Professional Diploma  for the preparation of Jordanian educators prior to starting their teaching jobs, according to the statement. 

The diploma offers training that “not only recognises merit and passion in teachers, but also gives novices the opportunity to practise and refine their teaching skills before venturing into the field”. 

Run by the Queen Rania Teacher Academy, and enacted in partnership with the Ministry of Education and University of Jordan, with technical support from the University College London Institute of Education, the programme is due to graduate its first batch of teachers next month.

Meanwhile, the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development (QRF), one of Her Majesty’s “most dynamic educational initiatives to date, also stands as a testament to her mission of providing quality education to all students in Jordan and the region”.  

Internationally, Her Majesty works to enhance education in Jordan and the region. These efforts have culminated with QRF garnering the interest of global establishments invested in education, including Google.org.

In May,  Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google.org’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., announced a $3 million grant to the foundation for the creation of a K-12 Arab online learning platform.

Between a packed agenda of local outreach programmes and a number of vital global initiatives, the Queen’s voice as a “champion for tolerance and global citizenship has been heard beyond Jordan’s borders”.

At international gatherings, Her Majesty has taken to global podiums to advocate on behalf of Arab women and children, showcasing their successes and ambitions to the entire world, while also highlighting the challenges they face in light of the region’s crises. 

In recognition of her efforts in exposing the plight of refugees, combating false perceptions of Arab and Muslim women, and calling for a unified front against global extremism, Her Majesty has been granted various awards over the past year.  

Among the most prominent accolades and honours received by Her Majesty this year are the Global Heart Award from the Heart for Children charity organisation, the Vital Voices’ Global Trailblazer Award, the Foreign Press Association’s first-ever Humanitarian Award, and the Andrea Bocelli Humanitarian Award. 

Additionally, through her position on their boards, Her Majesty continues to contribute to the work of the United Nations Foundation  and the World Economic Forum. Additionally, she is a UNICEF Eminent Advocate for Children as well as a member of the International Rescue Committee  board of directors.

With a substantial following on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, Her Majesty has often capitalised on social media outlets to engage in issues of great importance to her and her followers, involving them in her activities and initiatives as a mother, a working woman, and a person of vision.