Jordan River Foundation

Founded| 1995; 29 years ago (1995)
Founder| Queen Nour
Location|

* Jordan

Area served

| Jordan

Key people

| Queen Rania (Chairperson) Enaam Barrishi (Director General)
Employees| 219 (2011)
Website| www.jordanriver.jo

The Jordan River Foundation is a nonprofit organization, started in the early 1990s in Amman, Jordan to empower society, especially women and children, and in turn, improve the quality of life to secure a better future for all Jordanians. It was founded by Queen Nour Al Hussein, who was its first chair. After the death of her husband, King Hussein bin Talal, she left the position, which was taken over by Queen Rania Al-Abdullah.[1][2][3]

## Showroom

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The main entrance of the showroom.

Located on Jabal Amman, the Jordan River Foundation showroom occupies the house built in the 1936[4] by Salim al-Odat.[5] Odat rented the house to the British army throughout the 1930s to be used as offices. He sold it in 1939, after which it went through a number of owners in which it was used as a house, a police station, and a school during the 1960s. But in the 1980s, the house was abandoned and fell into disrepair.[5] Then, at the end of the decade, when a potential buyer threatened to tear down the house, architect Zaid al-Qoussous bought it so as to preserve the house. In 1994, the house was bought and renovated by the Jordan River Foundation to be used as their showroom.[5] Several companies and embassies contributed to the renovation:[4]

* USAID
* Embassy of Japan in Amman
* Canadian Embassy in Amman
* Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
* Australian Embassy
* Othman Mohamed Ali Bdeir
* Arab Technical Group
* Heating Supplies Company
* Technolinks

## Bani Hamida Women's Weaving Project

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Bani Hamida weavings

The Bani Hamida Women's Weaving Project is one of the projects hosted by the Jordan River Foundation. It was founded by Rebecca Salti in 1985 who was serving as the Director of Save the Children in Jordan. The project was heavily supported by Queen Nour Al Hussein [1].

Based in Mukawir, near Madaba, the project works to promote bedouin handicrafts and to improve economic and social well-being of bedouin women and children.[6] The Bani Hamida handicrafts are displayed in the Jordan River Foundation showroom.

## Wadi Al Rayan Project

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The Wadi Al Rayan Project is hosted by the Jordan River Foundation showroom. A group of 165 women involved in the project make baskets, mats, and furniture from local banana leaves and cattail reeds.[7]

## See also

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* Art in Jordan
* Jabal Amman

## References

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1. ^ "Biography of Her Majesty Queen Rania al Abdullah". World Health Organization. Retrieved 28 June 2008.
2. ^ Jordan River Foundation plaque. Jordan River Foundation, 2008
3. ^ Darwish, Adel (9 February 1999). "Spotlight on a Queen: Rania of the Hashemites". Retrieved 26 June 2008.
4. ^ a b Jordan River Foundation house plaque. Jordan River Foundation, 2008
5. ^ a b c Old Houses of Jordan. TURAB, 1997.
6. ^ Bani Hamida Women's Weaving Project plaque. Jordan River Foundation, 2008
7. ^ Wadi Al Rayan Project poster. Jordan River Foundation, 2008

## External links

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* Jordan River Foundation website