Amman, June 8 (Petra) — Her Royal Highness Princess Basma bint
Talal, President of the Jordanian National Forum for Women, on Monday
stressed the importance of mentorship and English-language programs
in empowering girls, enhancing their personal and professional
skills, and broadening opportunities for their future aspirations.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the mentorship and
English-language program, implemented by the forum under the
“Motivating Girls and Inspiring Networks for Inclusive and
Transformative Education” project, Princess Basma said investing in
girls’ education and empowerment is key to building a more prosperous
and sustainable future.

Princess Basma praised the project’s objectives, particularly its
focus on introducing participants to non-traditional career paths in
key sectors, enabling them to strengthen their English-language
proficiency, improve communication skills, and access broader
employment opportunities.

She also commended the forum, its partners, teachers, and volunteers
for their contributions to the program, underscoring the importance
of partnerships in supporting girls and expanding their future
prospects.

The program targeted 108 young women from Zarqa, Balqa, Madaba,
Irbid, Mafraq, Karak, Aqaba, Tafila, and Ma’an governorates,
providing specialized training in English and non-traditional
employment sectors aligned with labor market demands and aimed at
enhancing women’s participation in public life.

The program adopted a mentorship-based approach, selecting
experienced female professionals from targeted sectors to provide
guidance, training, and support through regular meetings, practical
learning activities, and field visits. These activities were carried
out in cooperation with Microsoft Jordan, the Business and
Professional Women Association, and the Irbid Tourism Directorate.

Secretary-General of the Jordanian National Forum for Women Ruba
Matarneh said the program was implemented by Amideast in partnership
with the coalition and the René Moawad Foundation, with funding from
the French Development Agency and in cooperation with the
International Rescue Committee.

She said the initiative focused on non-traditional employment sectors
that require advanced communication skills, including technology,
artificial intelligence, business, banking, and tourism.

Matarneh noted that the program was designed to address social and
educational challenges facing young women, particularly in rural
areas and communities outside major urban centers, including the gap
between educational outcomes and labor market needs, as well as the
growing demand for English-language skills in many professions.

She described the initiative as a strategic step toward empowering
adolescent girls by equipping them with the practical and theoretical
skills needed to enter the labor market with confidence and
independence.

For her part, Karen Elia, Program Director at the René Moawad
Foundation, said the partnership reflects the spirit of joint Arab
cooperation in addressing development priorities, particularly those
related to empowering women and girls and increasing their economic
participation.

The ceremony featured remarks from graduates and mentors, who
highlighted the program’s role in opening new opportunities for
participants and equipping them with skills that support employment
and entrepreneurship.

The Jordanian National Forum for Women seeks to build a sustainable
network that promotes knowledge exchange among women from different
generations and professional backgrounds, while raising awareness of
women’s role in public life and showcasing successful female role
models.

The forum also aims to cultivate a new generation of young female
leaders capable of driving positive change in their communities and
ensuring the long-term sustainability of development outcomes.

//Petra// AJ