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
