Mafraq, July 26 (Petra) – An economic empowerment program run by the Zakat Fund has helped transform the life of Umm Basel, a widow from the Mafraq Governorate who became solely responsible for supporting her family following her husband's death.

Facing difficult living conditions, Umm Basel was able to establish a small goat-rearing business through the fund's economic empowerment program, providing her family with a sustainable source of income and improving their financial circumstances.

Saud Al-Mashaqbeh, director of the Mafraq Awqaf Directorate, said the project began with the delivery of 15 goats to Umm Basel, who already had previous experience in livestock farming.

He told the Jordan News Agency (Petra) that the support was designed not as temporary assistance but as an opportunity to establish a lasting source of income that would enable her to support her family and improve their standard of living.

Al-Mashaqbeh said continuous follow-up and proper herd management contributed to the project's success. Within one year, the herd had grown to 27 goats, including 11 productive animals and 16 newborn kids, allowing her to expand the business and increase productivity.

The project now generates a monthly income of between JD100 and JD150 through the sale of milk, enabling Umm Basel to cover a significant portion of her family's basic needs while providing greater financial stability and self-reliance after the hardship she faced following her husband's death.

Al-Mashaqbeh said Umm Basel's experience is one of many examples supported through the Zakat Fund's economic empowerment programs, which aim to help eligible families transition from relying on financial assistance to becoming productive households with sustainable sources of income.

He added that her project is among approximately 141 rehabilitation and economic empowerment projects implemented by the Zakat Fund to promote self-reliance, create genuine income-generating opportunities for vulnerable families, improve their economic and social conditions, and support sustainable development.

Umm Basel said the project had changed her life by providing a stable livelihood instead of dependence on aid, expressing hope that she would continue expanding the business and increasing its production in the coming years.

//Petra// AF