Queen Rania meets young people with disabilities, learning difficulties

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Wednesday visited the Orient Spirit Development Organisation, a vocational training centre dedicated to the habilitation and training of persons with disabilities and learning difficulties, and met with a number of students.

During the visit, the Queen stopped by several stations where students demonstrated their acquired skills such as making handicrafts and accessories, embroidery, sewing, painting, woodwork and music, according to a statement from her office.

Her Majesty expressed her admiration of the quality of some of the products made by the students, who told her how the centre helps them market and sell their work. 

Queen Rania also spoke with trainers and participated in creating a mosaic piece with some of the students.

During the tour, accompanied by Sami Nasser, founding manager of Orient Spirit, Her Majesty listened to songs recited by the students to highlight the arts programme that teaches students various skills that help develop their imagination, creativity and self expression through music, painting and drama.

Falasteen Awad, director of Orient Spirit, briefed Queen Rania on the centre’s activities such as Academia, a basic teaching programme to help the students read information, and do basic mathematics in their everyday lives. 

Awad said the centre also teaches students life skills including personal hygiene, money management, cooking and recycling. 

Moreover, students are also taught soft skills that help them overcome communication challenges.

In addition, the centre offers job training to empower students and help them secure jobs or internships after mastering certain skills. 

Currently, 10 of its students are training at Tahboub and Geneva Hotel once a week, the statement said.

Orient Spirit was established in 2006 with the primary objective of enabling trainees to harness their innate abilities towards leading active, productive lives.