Queen meets with community leaders in Mafraq’s Sarhan District

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania visited the Sarhan District in Mafraq on Tuesday, where she met with local entrepreneurs and civil society organisations implementing projects, including those funded through the community-based grant scheme supported by the Royal Hashemite Court.

Speaking to a group of small owners and civil society organisation leaders, Her Majesty commended their dedicated efforts to uplift their community, describing their enthusiasm and willpower as undaunted by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement from Her Majesty’s office.

Her Majesty made these remarks during a gathering at Sama Al Sarhan Sports Club, where she was received by Mafraq Governor Salman Najada, club director Abdullah Sarhan, and Jordan River Foundation (JRF) Director General, Enaam Al Barrishi.

Her Majesty thanked civil society associations working with JRF to implement its projects in the area for making a genuine and tangible difference in people’s lives, underlining their crucial role in raising awareness about health and safety measures.

“We cannot downplay the dangers of the coronavirus, and I appreciate your role in educating the public and encouraging them to get the vaccine to protect themselves and their families,” she said. 

During the gathering, the Queen was briefed on the status of a community-based grant scheme supported by the Royal Hashemite Court (RHC). Implemented by the JRF in coordination with 36 civil society organisations, the RHC-supported scheme provides financing and business training to beneficiaries in Mafraq.

According to Barrishi, 200 families have received loans under the scheme in the last two years, and more than 70 permanent jobs have been created in the governorate.

During her visit to Sarhan District, Her Majesty stopped at Al Tawasol Association for Family and Child Development, where she was welcomed by the association’s president, Hajar Tweiresh. 

Established in 2007, Al Tawasol aims to strengthen the social fabric of the Sarhan community, and to empower residents by building their capacities and providing them with economic opportunities.

During a tour of the facilities, Queen Rania observed an awareness session on COVID-19 and the importance of vaccination against coronavirus. She also stopped by UNICEF’s My Space facility, a safe space for engaging children between the ages of 6 and 18, and promoting their participation and socioemotional wellbeing.

Her Majesty also dropped by a number of other activities taking place at the association during her visit, including a session for mothers on early childhood development, a robotics training course for adolescents, and a tutoring session for schoolchildren.

She also visited a local shop for dairy products owned by Shifa Sarhan, a young beneficiary who obtained a local grant to finance his small business that he is now looking to grow into a factory.

The JRF delivers necessary training and guidance to beneficiaries of the royal grant on how to create their own income-generating projects.