The Big Picture:
Marred by a global pandemic, an ever increasing in-employability rate of 24 percent, and the world’s third lowest rate of female participation in the local workforce, Jordan relies on a holistic approach to socio-economic development adopted by leading NGOs such as the Jordan River Foundation. The approach is based on empowering families and communities as an interdisciplinary unit; offering interventions in entrepreneurship, workforce readiness, financial literacy and 21st Century Skills.
The Approach:
JRF highly relies on word of mouth marketing and referrals as well as its social media platforms to engage with and reach out to potential local community beneficiaries. Job training takes place at the foundation’s embroidery and culinary arts centers, focusing on employability and project management skills, adopting a model that adheres to the Jordanian labor law, while committing to equality, inclusion and diversity. The foundation adopts an adaptive learning approach to capacity building and training. This approach has contributed to the psychological and socio-economic welfare of JRF’s beneficiaries as well as their self resilience, which in turn has enabled them to support their families through sustainable livelihoods.
A Warehouse of Images
Jordan River Designs
Offering an exceptional selection of traditional and contemporary handicrafts created by local community women, JRD features embroidered products, rugs and special gift items rooted in Jordanian visual arts; produced by over 3 thousand women artisans empowered by JRF.
Al Karma Embroidery Center
Established in 1996 in Jabal Al Natheef, Al Karmah Embroidery Center employs local women artisans who craft traditional and contemporary handmade embroidery products, from home furnishings, to gift items, to fashion accessories.
Bani Hamida Weaving Project
Launched by Save the Children in 1985, the Bani Hamida Weaving Project became part of JRF in 1998. Reviving an otherwise impoverished region, the project revamped the long celebrated tradition of Bedouin weaving, and helped maintain the social fabric of the Makawir area. The project also leveraged the living conditions of the area’s local community. Over 1,600 women have benefited from the project since its inception.
Wadi Al Rayan Project
Established in 1997, the Wadi Al Rayan Project revolutionized the use of cattail reeds and banana leaves as raw manufacturing materials, which were previously burnt and disposed of, posing as an environmental hazard to the Wadi’s inhabitants. Cattail reeds and banana leaves are used to produce handwoven environment friendly products, including baskets, coasters, mats, among other home accessories.
IKEA & JRF
JRF’s partnership with IKEA has helped empower refugee and local community women through a series of handicraft projects capturing Jordan’s artistic heritage. The initiative helps sustain social and economic stability across host communities, offering women jobs to produce embroidery items, sold exclusively by IKEA, locally and internationally. The first limited collection of handcrafted textiles, titled TILLTALANDE, has been produced by over 110 women artisans, followed by HANTVER, BOTANISK, WHITE CAMEL and LOKALT. The collections were launched across several IKEA stores in the GCC, North Africa, Asia, the US and Europe.
A Table of Good: Al Karma Kitchen
Established in 2006, Al Karma Kitchen offers a wide variety of freshly cooked foods prepared by local community women. Products include Ma’amoul, cookies, locally infused spicy macarons, and 13 frozen food items handcrafted with the finest ingredients.
