Queen Rania Meets with the Friends of the Children Society Members and Beneficiaries in Marka

November 20, 2011

(Office of Her Majesty – Press Department- Amman) – Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah visited the Friends of the Children Society, Children Cultural Center in Marka today and met with its members and beneficiaries. The visit comes on the occasion of the Universal Children’s Day and the anniversary of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, in 1959, and the Convention on the Rights of the Child, in 1989.

Her Majesty toured the center’s facilities and met with the directors of the Society’s six different branches. The Queen was briefed about their programs and activities of each branch, which mostly focus on enriching children’s knowledge.

Her Majesty expressed her pride in the work done by the society and their efforts in raising the standards of childcare in local communities. Her Majesty also stressed the importance of providing children with an open space to express and develop their skills and hobbies, which the Society provides through its centers.

The society has six branches; the Children Cultural Center in Marka, Al-Hussein Center, near Al-Hussein Refugee Camp, Hittin Cultural Complex in Hittin Refugee Camp, Al-Wihdat Center in East Al-Wihdat Area, Al-Baqa’a Cultural Center in Al-Baqa’a Al-Areed Street and Al-Rusaifeh Center in Al-Rusaifeh.

Her Majesty also met with the society’s board members and a few beneficiaries where she heard about the services and future plans of the society as well as the positive impact that their work has on the local communities in where they operate their centers. Princess Alia Tabbaa’ is the honorary chair of the society.

The society is currently providing day care services for approximately 800 children in all branches for minimal fees.

Their centers are equipped with books, audio-video equipment, computers, and 30 qualified specialists in the field of child care.

A cooperation agreement was signed and executed through 2008 between the society and Save the Children Foundation, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the International Relief and Development (IRD) to execute children programs.

The society started the National Campaign for Encouraging Reading in 1966 in cooperation with the Greater Amman Municipality, Haya Cultural Center, UNICEF, SOS Villages, Child’s Community in Jordanian Writers Association, Children Care Society, Islamic Center Society, and schools (public, private and UNRWA).

The society has also launched “A Book for Every Child” national campaign in 2002 in cooperation with the High National Community for Advertising.