It is a new week and HAPPY THANKSGIVINING TO ALL MY CANADIANS READERS.

Today Her Majesty Queen Rania chaired the Jordan River Foundation (JRF) annual board meeting to discuss the foundation's 2017 achievements and its strategy for the coming year 2018.

The meeting was attended by all board of trustee members including  JRF Director General Enaam Barrishi. During the meetings Mrs Barrishi gave Her Majesty and the rest an illustration of the foundation's goals and progress for the year as well as their expansion plans for the next year by focusing on their key programs: the Jordan River Community Empowerment Program (JRCEP) and Jordan River Child Safety Program (JRCSP).

Throughout 2017, the JRCEP implemented a number of projects that aim to increase employment rates among its beneficiaries by providing expertise, guidance, and financial support for local projects. The program has also partnered with local and international organizations to support the launch of hundreds of income-generating micro and small enterprises in several governorates.

After highlighting the milestones achieved by JRCSP this year, Barrishi shared with Her Majesty the program’s expansion plan for 2018, which includes extending its holistic prevention and intervention services across all governorates. The program’s growth will be carried out in collaboration with community-based organizations, which make up the foundation’s principal implementing partners.

The board also updated the Queen on the latest developments regarding JRF’s handicrafts projects, including its recent partnership with IKEA, the world’s largest multi-national furniture corporation. Under the first phase of this partnership, IKEA Jordan will launch the first collection of handicrafts made by JRF beneficiaries, providing jobs for Jordanian women and Syrian refugees.

The Foundation was established first by Her Majesty Dowager Queen Noor Al Hussein then by Her Majesty Queen Rania in 1995, JRF is a non-governmental organization with a focus on both child safety and community empowerment. It provides homegrown solutions to some of Jordan’s most pressing economic challenges, and incorporates both prevention and intervention models for child safety and protection.