Jordan River Foundation

The Jordan River Foundation is a Jordanian nonprofit organization established in Amman in 1995 by Princess Rania Al Abdullah, who later became Queen of Jordan. The foundation was created to support social development and improve quality of life in Jordan, with particular emphasis on children, women, and vulnerable communities. Queen Rania has chaired its Board of Trustees since its establishment. The foundation’s work combines social protection with community-based economic development. Its activities include child-protection initiatives, programs intended to strengthen families and communities, and projects that create income opportunities for women through traditional crafts and locally sourced materials. Rather than operating as a conventional commercial brand, the organization uses its public identity to connect social programs, cultural preservation, community participation, and fundraising or partnership activity. One visible part of its work has been the Jordan River Foundation showroom in Jabal Amman. The showroom occupies a historic house built in 1936 by Salim al-Odat. The building was used at different times as offices, a private residence, a police station, and a school. After becoming disused and falling into poor condition, it was purchased in the late 1980s by architect Zaid al-Qoussous, who sought to preserve it. The foundation acquired and renovated the property in 1994 for use as a showroom. The renovation received support from a number of diplomatic missions, development partners, and Jordanian companies, including USAID and the embassies of Japan, Canada, Germany, and Australia. The showroom has also served as a venue for presenting community-based handicrafts. The Bani Hamida Women’s Weaving Project, founded in 1985 by Rebecca Salti while she was director of Save the Children in Jordan, is associated with the foundation’s showroom. Based in Mukawir near Madaba, the project supports Bedouin women and children by promoting weaving and other traditional handicrafts. The Wadi Al Rayan Project similarly links craft production with local livelihoods: a group of approximately 165 women produce baskets, mats, and furniture using banana leaves and cattail reeds. The foundation’s public role therefore extends beyond charitable assistance. Its programs preserve aspects of Jordanian craft heritage while seeking to improve household economic prospects and social resilience. Its child-protection and community-development orientation, together with its association with Jordan’s royal family, has made it a prominent nonprofit institution in Jordan. Publicly available reference material does not establish a separate commercial parent company, stock-market listing, or international operating network.

The Jordan River Foundation was established in Amman in 1995 by Princess Rania Al Abdullah, four years before she became Queen of Jordan. From its creation, the organization was oriented toward social improvement in Jordan, especially through work involving children, women, and communities facing economic or social disadvantage. Queen Rania has chaired the foundation’s Board of Trustees since its establishment. A significant part of the foundation’s public identity has been its connection between social development and Jordanian cultural production. Its Jabal Amman showroom is located in a historic house built in 1936 by Salim al-Odat. The building had several uses over the decades, including offices for the British army, a residence, a police station, and a school. It was later abandoned and deteriorated. Architect Zaid al-Qoussous acquired the house in the late 1980s when its possible demolition threatened its survival, helping preserve the structure. The Jordan River Foundation purchased and renovated it in 1994, before its formal establishment, for use as a showroom. The renovation involved contributions from international diplomatic missions, development organizations, and Jordanian businesses. Listed contributors include USAID, the Japanese, Canadian, German, and Australian embassies in Amman, and several local companies and individuals. The restored building became a location for displaying handicrafts connected with community projects. Among those projects is the Bani Hamida Women’s Weaving Project. It began in 1985 under Rebecca Salti, then director of Save the Children in Jordan, and received substantial support from Queen Noor Al Hussein. Located in Mukawir near Madaba, the project promotes Bedouin handicrafts while seeking to improve the economic and social circumstances of Bedouin women and children. The Jordan River Foundation showroom has presented products associated with the project. Another initiative hosted through the showroom is the Wadi Al Rayan Project. Approximately 165 women involved in the project produce baskets, mats, and furniture from banana leaves and cattail reeds. These activities illustrate the foundation’s approach of connecting income generation and community participation with the preservation of local craft knowledge. The available reference material describes the foundation primarily as a nonprofit organization rather than as a commercial enterprise. It does not provide evidence of a parent corporation, public listing, commercial ownership structure, or operations outside Jordan. Its documented focus remains child protection, women’s empowerment, community development, and the support and presentation of locally produced handicrafts.

• 1999

  Founder became Queen of Jordan

  [1]Jordan River Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Princess Rania Al Abdullah became Queen of Jordan four years after founding the organization. She continued to chair the foundation’s Board of Trustees.

• 1995

  Jordan River Foundation founded

  [1]Jordan River Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Princess Rania Al Abdullah established the Jordan River Foundation in Amman with a mission centered on social development, children, women, and improved quality of life in Jordan.

• 1994

  Historic Jabal Amman house acquired and renovated

  [1]Jordan River Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  The Jordan River Foundation acquired and renovated the historic house in Jabal Amman for use as a showroom. The building had previously served as offices, a residence, a police station, and a school.

• 1985

  Bani Hamida Women’s Weaving Project established

  [1]Jordan River Foundationen.wikipedia.org

  Rebecca Salti founded the Bani Hamida Women’s Weaving Project while serving as director of Save the Children in Jordan. The project later became associated with the Jordan River Foundation showroom and supports Bedouin women and children through handicraft production.

A Jordanian nonprofit combining child protection, women’s empowerment, community development, cultural heritage preservation, and livelihood creation.

• Social protection

  Child-protection initiatives

  Programs centered on protecting children and improving the conditions in which children and families live. The available reference material identifies child protection as one of the foundation’s principal areas of work but does not specify individual program names, launch dates, or service volumes.

• Women’s economic empowerment and handicrafts · 1985

  Bani Hamida Women’s Weaving Project

  A community handicraft initiative based in Mukawir near Madaba. It promotes Bedouin weaving and related crafts while supporting the economic and social well-being of Bedouin women and children. The project was founded in 1985 and its handicrafts have been displayed at the Jordan River Foundation showroom.

• Community handicrafts

  Wadi Al Rayan Project

  A craft-production project involving approximately 165 women. Participants make baskets, mats, and furniture from banana leaves and cattail reeds, linking locally available materials with community income generation and the presentation of Jordanian craft traditions.

• Cultural and handicraft showcase · 1994

  Jordan River Foundation showroom

  A showroom in Jabal Amman housed in a preserved historic building. It has been used to present handicrafts associated with foundation-supported community projects, including Bani Hamida and Wadi Al Rayan.

1. 1Jordan River Foundationen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Jordan River Foundation official websitejordanriver.jo