Queen tours Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation’s cultural facilities

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania on Tuesday visited the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation (AHSF), where she was introduced to the foundation’s various cultural programmes, a statement from Her Majesty Office said.

Located in Jabal Amman, AHSF is a non-profit organisation dedicated to investing in cultural and social innovation. The foundation’s work focuses on the advancement of thought leadership, literature and arts, and employment and innovation within local communities.

Her Majesty was received by AHSF Chairman Sabih Al Masri, Arab Bank General Manager Nema Sabbagh, and AHSF CEO Valentina Qussisiya, who took her on a tour of the Abdul Hameed Shoman public library. 

Aiming to instill a culture of reading among Jordanians, the public library is home to a variety of cultural activities, including book signings, training workshops, panel discussions and film screenings. Under its efforts to serve a larger segment of society, a second branch of the library is to be launched in East Amman.

Queen Rania and the AHSF team joined a number of Jordanian innovators and startup founders at the library for a discussion on building identity through culture. The conversation focused on the vital role culture plays in identity formation, as well as its ability to drive innovation and entrepreneurship among the nation’s youth.

During the conversation, participants addressed the necessity of enriching Arabic digital content catered to young children and the benefits of encouraging both creative and critical thinking from an early age. They also highlighted the importance of universal access to the arts, mentioning the need to support the musical sector, encourage local photographic talents and use cinema to address social issues.

The conversation then turned to AHSF’s various cultural programmes, including AHSF Cultural Days, held across Jordan’s governorates, as well as Jabal Amman Cultural Week. 

Qussisiya reaffirmed AHSF’s ongoing commitment to supporting culture, education and science, particularly through the Abdul Hameed Shoman Fund for Scientific Research and the Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Arab Researchers.

Her Majesty then stopped by the AHSF’s children’s library Knowledge Path, where children were engaged in storytelling, musical and innovation-promoting activities. 

Under its collaboration with the Ministry of Education, AHSF aims to expand its programmes into local schools, in addition to establishing school libraries and book clubs, enhancing school librarians’ training, and supporting technology and literacy-based student awards.

AHSF was established by the Arab Bank in 1978. The foundation offers a vast selection of programmes supporting creativity, scientific research and cultural enrichment, which are aimed at positively impacting local communities, according to the statement.