Noor Al Hussein
Foundation
Community
Development
Quality of Life Project
The Quality of
Life Project (QOL) has been the major vehicle of the Noor Al
Hussein Foundation's sustainable socio-economic community development
and capacity building activities at the grassroots level. The
QOL project, initiated in 1989 with support from the World Health
Organization (WHO), provides an innovative model for comprehensive
human development to improve the overall quality of life of
underprivileged communities. The project, which has gained international
recognition for its participatory approach to rural development,
integrates self-employment practices with business development,
health, education, community participation, and socio-economic
empowerment. It has helped thousands of women and their families
develop their talents, increase their incomes, and contribute
meaningfully to their communities.
The QOL Project
emphasizes on integrated development, implemented by local citizens
through consensus building, community organization, community
mobilization and training for men, women, and young people.
These individuals become not only recipients of aid, but initiators
and participants in their own development. The government acts
as a facilitator, and the Foundation serves as intermediary.
The overarching
goal of the Quality of Life Project is to achieve full community
participation in the transformation of communities. QOL also
assists communities in initiating innovative market-oriented
enterprises to provide job opportunities and increase family
incomes. The program also promotes the utilization of local
resources and efficient management of the environment; promotes
the role of women and youth; and creates awareness of health
and environmental issues.
This approach
has been implemented in 21 remote rural villages across Jordan,
directly benefiting over 3441 people each year and touching
the lives of over 65,000.
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National Handicraft Development
Project
One of the Noor
Al Hussein Foundation's most prominent income generation initiatives
for empowering women has been the National Handicraft Development
Project. The Project’s objective is to preserve traditional
handicrafts and create income for women in remote and rural
areas. Through the Jordan Design and Trade Center, the program
has established several income-generating handicraft centers
around Jordan, providing product development, technical expertise,
and linkages to local and international markets, and creating
over 2000 job opportunities.
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Qudorat Program
In October 2004,
the Foundation was selected by the Jordan Ministry of Planning
and International Cooperation to imlement the "Qudorat" Program
to strengthen Jordanian civil society and improve the quality
of life. The program has assisted 49 local NGOs to enhance their
abilitiy to lead economic development initiatives through community
engagement, solid market principles, and professional management
training. The program established 31 income-generating projects
in Irbid, Mafraq, Balqa, Zarqa, Tafileh, and Aqaba governorates.
The training focused on local community participation, institutional
capacity building, and project design and management. The program
has also established linkages between CBOs and the private sector
which helps to create business opportunities and ensure sustainability.
For
more information visit the Qudorat website.
www.qudoratnhf.jo
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Poverty Pockets Program
In late 2005,
the Noor Al Hussein Foundation was selected for another major
national program by the Jordan Ministry of Planning and International
Cooperation to implement community development projects in two
"poverty pockets” in southern Jordan (Queira and Al-Azraq).
These pockets include 10 communities with a total population
of 19,000. This program will establish 3 income-generating enterprises
and create over 500 job opportunities. Also, a revolving loan
fund has been initiated in each pocket to provide loans to potential
entrepreneurs. Community capacity-building training is being
conducted on various topics such as business development, social
empowerment, and awareness of healthy lifestyles and reproductive
health. In addition, in collaboration with the King Hussein
Foundation's Information and Research Center, the Poverty
Pockets Program is introducing parents to innovative childhood
development tools using inexpensive toy-kits.
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Training Unit
The Noor Al Hussein
Foundation’s Training Unit originated as a body within the Quality
of Life Project and later emerged as a separate entity to continue
serving various NHF projects. This unit provides training to
local and regional NGOs, as well as offering business development
services to income-generating projects and micro- and small
entrepreneurs. Additionally, the NHF Training Unit provides
training throughout the Kingdom in the International Labor Organization’s
Start and Improve Your Business (SIYB) program.
In
2002, a model Village Business Incubator (VBI) for rural
women was established in the northern village of Um Qais. The
VBI seeks to empower women and promote their role in the labor
market through business training and linkages with lending institutions.
Currently, VBI is active in 20 villages in Beni Kenanheh District,
benefiting hundreds of women who have been trained in entrepreneurship
and small business management principles. Over a thousand women
participated in the awareness sessions.
Currently, the
Village Business Incubator model is being replicated in Syria,
in collaboration with a European partner. VBI/Jordan is becoming
the focal point of a regional network which includes Palestine
and Syria.
Plans are ongoing
to launch an additional service at the VBI. The Information
Window (IW) assists rural unemployed individuals with CV
preparation, interviews, and communication skills. The Information
Window will also provide linkages to labor offices and the private
sector.
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Aqaba Center
The Aqaba Center
was established in 1986 to improve the standard of living of
families in Aqaba, addressing their economic, social and cultural
needs. Since its inception, the Center has been recognized as
an important institution for women and children in Aqaba. It’s
most notable initiatives include the Aqaba Workshop, the Children's
Library, the Aqaba Showroom, and the Information Technology
Center.
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The Aqaba
Workshop was established in 1995 to provide vocational training
and job opportunities for underprivileged women to raise
family incomes and improve standards of living. The workshop
has three production lines: sewing, tie-dye, and tapestry
patchwork.
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The Children’s
Library, founded in 1996, was the first library for children
in Aqaba. It reaches hundreds of students annually, and
has been a venue for cultural activities and educational
awareness campaigns on topics such as children’s rights,
drug awareness, health care and environmental issues. For
example, the “Children of the Coral Reef of Aqaba” Project,
in cooperation with the Global Environment Fund (GEF), has
raised awareness on the bio-diversity of marine life and
the protection of the coral reef of Aqaba.
The Aqaba Showroom
is housed in a historic house near the Aqaba museum and showcases
Jordanian handicrafts made by NHF’s cooperatives nationwide.
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The Information
Technology Center, established in 2001, hosts an ICT Knowledge
Station, in cooperation with the National Information Center,
to build capacity and enhance skills in the fields of ICT
and business.
As Aqaba is evolving
into a liberalized, low-tax, duty-free, multi-sectoral development
area, NHF aspires to expan into a Human Resources Development
Center that will reinforce local resources to meet future economic
expansion in the area. The NHF Human Resource Development Center
will offer a full range of programs and services to help enrich
the capabilities of individuals to meet the rising need in Aqaba
for a skill-based local workforce.
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Institutional Capacity
NFH’s community
development programs benefit from the Foundation’s broad network
of experts. For example, heatlh awareness programs are conducted
by doctors and nurses at the Foundation's Institute for Family
Health. Quality of Life motivational campaigns employ the Performing
Arts Center’s interactive theater and puppet shows to introduce
developmental messages that address taboo topics. Religious
leaders and other experts are also invited to clarify misconception
and misinterpretations of religious, medical, and cultural concepts.
This multi-faceted
approach has resulted in social change and discussion in local
communities, particularly with respect to women’s and youth
issues. Awareness campaigns have helped reduce illiteracy and
empower women through training on leadership, communication,
and gender issues. Training and awareness campaigns for youth
have addressed unconventional career options, civic responsibility,
AIDS, the dangers of smoking and addiction.
Expanding Regionally
The Noor Al Hussein
Foundation's integrated approach to development has earned international
recognition, which has sparked demand for regional training
by the Quality of Life Project. More than 500 decision-makers
and NGO leaders -- working on development projects in 15 Arab
and Islamic countries – have been trained using this comprehensive
approach, including representatives from Bahrain, Palestine,
Afghanistan, Tunisia, Egypt, Oman, Morocco, Pakistan, Iran,
Somalia, Syria, Sudan, UAE, Yemen and Qatar. From March 1996
to October 1997, the QOL Project implemented its integrated
methodology in three villages in Yemen.
In 1998, the
Quality of Life Project and its Regional Training Center were
officially recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO)
as a successful model of integrated community development and
a qualified trainer for the Middle East and North Africa Region.
Several NGOs from Saudi Arabia and Syria have benefited from
NHF's development programs. Moreover, since 2004, specially
designed training workshops have been continuously organized
for Iraqi workers in Jordan.
The Village Business
Incubator (VBI) /Jordan staff is assisting in enhancing the
capacities of the staff of a similar incubator in Syria, becoming
a focal point of a regional network within the area.
Currently, the
Noor Al Hussein Foundation is seeking funds to expand its outreach
to the Muslim countries of Yemen and Tajikistan. The Foundation
hopes to extend training programs to support the establishment
of a business incubator in Yemen.
In Tajikistan,
NHF is working to provide opportunities for destitute young
girls to further their education. The program prepares them
for future leadership roles in their communities through a program
specially designed by the King Hussein Foundation's
Jubilee Institute.
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