The Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) and the Jordan Zakat Fund signed a cooperation agreement to strengthen integration between the Zakat Fund’s programmes and the development pathways implemented by JOHUD through The Goodwill Campaign.
The signing ceremony was attended by Her Royal Highness Princess Basma bint Talal, Chair of JOHUD’s Board of Trustees and Chair of the Higher Committee of The Goodwill Campaign, and by the Minister of Awqaf, Islamic Affairs and Holy Places, and Chairman of the Board of the Jordanian Zakat Fund, Dr Mohammad Al-Khalaileh. The agreement was signed by JOHUD’s Executive Director, Farah Al-Daghestani, and the Director General of the Zakat Fund, Dr Abdul Samirat.
The agreement, which was signed at the Princess Basma Development Centre in Aidoun, Irbid Governorate, aims to cooperate in implementing social and development interventions targeting the most vulnerable families, through support for productive projects, orphan sponsorships, and home maintenance, leading to the economic empowerment of the targeted families and groups and improving their sources of income and living conditions.
Her Royal Highness stressed the importance of this new partnership between The Goodwill Campaign and the Jordanian Zakat Fund, noting that it comes within the framework of the campaign’s commitment to diversifying its partnerships with various national institutions in both the public and private sectors, in a way that contributes to strengthening the values and noble meanings of solidarity and social cohesion.
Her Royal Highness explained that the humanitarian and charitable objectives of The Goodwill Campaign are aligned with the mission of the Jordan Zakat Fund in contributing to improving the lives and livelihoods of the targeted groups and providing suitable income-generating employment opportunities, especially for female-headed households.
Her Royal Highness commended the significant role of the Zakat Fund and its efforts to alleviate the suffering of families in need and support them through its diverse programmes.
Her Royal Highness and Dr Al-Khalaileh listened to a presentation delivered by JOHUD’s Director of Public Relations, Qais Al-Tarawneh, and the Director of the Princess Basma Development Centre, Dr Zuhour Gharaibeh, on the Fund’s mission, objectives, programmes, and various interventions, particularly The Goodwill Campaign, which represents a distinguished national model of development work carried out by the Fund through its network of 52 centres spread across the Kingdom’s governorates and districts, within the framework of partnership with national institutions in the public and private sectors.
Al-Tarawneh said that JOHUD works through focused and comprehensive immediate interventions, as well as longer-term ones, to serve the most vulnerable groups and female-headed households, transforming them into productive families capable of supporting themselves, in addition to capacity-building, vocational training, changing stereotypical perceptions of women’s work, increasing women’s participation in the labour market, and providing university scholarships.
The agreement includes funding around 25 productive projects for vulnerable female-headed households in various parts of the Kingdom, focusing on agricultural, handicraft, and productive activities, to be managed in accordance with specific standards and conditions, in addition to sponsoring 50 orphaned children and maintaining and renovating 12 homes for families in need.
On the other hand, Her Royal Highness handed over educational assistance to 16 male and female students in Irbid Governorate who are studying university specialisations aligned with labour market requirements. She also handed over the food parcels and food assistance provided by The Goodwill Campaign to around 100 female-headed households, and took part in distributing winter clothing and toys to 50 orphaned children.
Her Royal Highness also viewed the rural market featuring home-made products by around 12 women in Irbid Governorate, which aims to help market the women’s products and provide a source of income to support their families and improve their living conditions.