Princess Basma centre provides support to residents of impoverished Khaldieh town

MAFRAQ — Around 20km to the south of Mafraq city lies the Khaldieh District, an isolated yet vibrant region that is home to 25,000 people, making it the second most densely populated area in the northeastern governorate.

Despite the difficult living conditions Khaldieh residents are enduring — nearly 46 per cent are below the poverty line — the Princess Basma Development Centre in the area is acting as a “hub for interaction and training opportunities for the local community”, according to Thuraya Khaldi, a member of the centre.

Improving young people’s self-esteem, leading and communications skills is the main goal of the facility, she said at a ceremony on Monday, during which HRH Princess Basma, president of the National Goodwill Campaign’s higher committee, handed out much needed assistance to a number of students and families.

Ibrahim Otein, president of the Mafraq Charitable Societies’ Union, cited another facility inaugurated by the princess in 1998 that brought change to the lives of many people in the area — the Khaldieh Society for Special Education, which provides services to people with disabilities.

Addressing Princess Basma, he said: “Your initiative to establish a physical therapy unit in Khaldieh in 1996 has had a huge impact on the lives of many.”

The princess, in cooperation with members of the campaign’s higher committee, distributed urgent assistance to 700 families, scholarship aid to 25 students, schoolbags to 800 students and assistance to three charities to start income-generating projects.

The schemes include a yoghurt manufacturing unit, a sewing workshop and a commercial kitchen.

In addition, a medical campaign was held to test for medical conditions that are common in the area, including enlarged prostate, helical bacteria, cardiac enzymes, cholesterol and diabetes.

If the test results reveal that a patient is affected, further assistance is given through the medical arm of the Goodwill campaign.

During a gathering that brought together a number of residents, tribal leaders and representatives of women and youth sectors, Princess Basma underlined the importance of genuine partnership between all the public, private and charitable societies to serve the development process in Jordan and encourage volunteerism.

She praised the activities of women and young people in the area, who are contributing to improving its overall development.

The princess visited Khaldieh Secondary School for Girls and Khaldieh Primary Coeducational School, where she handed out assistance and checked on the activities of the medical day.

Launched in 1999 by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, the National Goodwill Campaign has provided, until February, around JD28 million worth of assistance to 287,023 people, reaching more than 1.43 million indirect beneficiaries.