JRF holds graduation ceremony for “Community Empowerment in Aqaba” Beneficiaries

Aqaba – JRF held a graduation ceremony for a group of “Community Empowerment in Aqaba” Program beneficiaries. Implemented by JRF in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council, and funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, the program aims to mobilize vulnerable Jordanians and Syrian refugees in Aqaba; empowering them economically and socially through a series of life skills, entrepreneurship, workforce readiness programs and access to micro funding.

The program also aims to enhance the socio-economic stability of local communities and refugees in Aqaba via communal and entrepreneurial integration.

Huda, a program beneficiary, underwent a series of training sessions in micro-enterprise, enabling her to establish her own bakery after suffering financial blows to her business. Huda was qualified to receive micro funding for her bakery, which enabled her to automate her operations, which in turn contributed to the growth of her client base and income.

Escaping the war in Syria, Khawla struggled to sustain an income for her family until she was able to develop entrepreneurial knowledge and skills under the “Community Empowerment in Aqaba” Program, which enabled her to establish a home based tailor shop via a micro fund, helping her support her family.

"Developing the employability and entrepreneurial skills of our beneficiaries contributes to JRF’s strategy in curbing unemployment, which has reached 18 percent this year,” pointed JRF’s Director General Enaam Barrishi.

"Through this program, we’ve been able to offer professional and technical training in line with the needs of Aqaba's growth sectors, mainly tourism, trade and services, given the city’s strategic position as a major regional and global markets gateway," added Barrishi.

Several private sector companies and NGOs were honored during the event for their role in recruiting over 40 beneficiaries under the program this year.

The ceremony was attended by private and public sector representatives including Chief Commissioner of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority Nasser Shraideh, as well as delegates from the Danish Refugee Council and the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration.