Queen Rania visits SOS Children's Village in Irbid

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Wednesday visited the SOS Children's Village in Irbid to celebrate Mother’s Day with the facility's mothers and children.

The Queen spoke with the mothers and aunts about the roles that they play in bringing up the children, while they talked about the tenderness and affection they give to the children which provides them with a sense of security. 

They also shared with Queen Rania stories of their bonding with the children that in turn helps in creating a sense of family unity, according to a statement from Her Majesty's office.

During the meeting, which was attended by SOS Jordan Chair Reem Habayeb, SOS Village Association of Jordan National Director Lina Mola and SOS Village Irbid Manager Zakaria Momani, Her Majesty praised the positive impact SOS Village mothers and aunts have had on the lives of the children.

Her Majesty also lauded the partnership between Al Aman Fund for Orphans and SOS Villages in enabling children to achieve their goals and become pioneers in their communities, the statement said.

To date, five SOS Village graduates have benefited from Al Aman Fund scholarships.

Queen Rania joined the children as they celebrated Mother’s Day in “Mama Fatima’s” house.

Fatima, who has spent 15 years in the facility as a village mother, has witnessed the graduation of several children; she is extremely proud of them and consistently follows their progress, according to the statement. 

Her Majesty also had the chance to hear the stories of several beneficiaries who graduated from the village and are continuing their studies in different fields at various local universities.

One graduate explained how he continues to visit the village regularly to engage with the children, whom he considers as siblings, as well as to visit his village mother to keep her updated about his educational progress.

At the village club, the children performed a song for Her Majesty, which they had prepared for the occasion, and showed her Mother’s Day cards that they had crafted and designed for their village mothers. 

The Queen also looked at candles produced by the village mothers with the help of the children.

SOS Villages were established in Jordan in 1987 to provide care for orphans as well as underprivileged children below the age of 14 who, for various social reasons, cannot live with their families. 

After the children graduate from the village, when they reach the age of 14, they are moved into affiliated youth homes close to the village.

SOS Village Irbid opened its doors in 1999 and currently houses 66 children, 36 of them girls. The village operates on a family-based model through the support of village mothers, aunts, brothers and sisters who have regular family gatherings. The children are divided into 11 houses, each with its own mother and acting as a family unit.

Three SOS Youth Homes currently house 33 boys and girls and are located near the SOS Village in areas that have access to all services and amenities, the statement said.

Forty-six children have graduated from the Irbid SOS Village, some of whom have completed schooling, while others are enrolled in vocational colleges and institutions. Some have also moved back to live with their biological families.

A total of 200 children are residing in SOS Villages in Amman, Irbid and Aqaba, which enrol them in public and private schools, and encourage them to complete their education through Al Aman Fund, an initiative Queen Rania launched in 2003 to ensure a brighter future for orphaned children after they graduate from care centres.