21/05/2015

Her Majesty Queen Rania checked on the Healthy Kitchen project at the Mamounieh Al Gharbieh Secondary School in Madaba. The project is implemented by the Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS) in collaboration with the World Food Program (WFP), according to a statement from the Queen's office.

While meeting with project stakeholders at the school, Her Majesty praised the efforts put in by all parties involved, emphasizing the need to support such entrepreneurial programs that reach and serve communities and contribute towards creating jobs that benefit women. Queen Rania also highlighted the importance of reviewing and documenting the challenges faced by the project in order to study the feasibility of expansion and increasing the program’s reach to more schools.

During the visit, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Mohammad Thneibat expressed the ministry’s interest in the program and its desire to increase the number of beneficiary schools next year, the statement said. Thneibat also indicated that on-the-ground results reflected the satisfaction of students, teachers and parents with the food quality.

RHAS Director Enaam Barrishi briefed Her Majesty about the program and its goals, focusing on RHAS’ role in developing the production kitchen of Al Aqsa Charitable Society in Madaba.She noted that the kitchen received the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) accreditation.

The number of beneficiary schools stands at 10, with 2,300 students receiving daily meals, Barrishi added.RHAS plans to carry out a study to measure the effect of the program in order to develop future plans. A nonprofit organization, RHAS was established in 2005 under the Queen's direction to promote health and empower Jordanians to adopt healthy lifestyles and behaviors.

RHAS projects, which mainly focus on schools, youth and community, are implemented in accordance with the needs of local residents and revolve around national health priorities. Majida Al Shawabkeh, the school principal, underscored the positive outcomes of the program and the notable change in students’ attitudes, leading to a lower number of absentees and higher grades and motivation.

Established in 1989, the Mamounieh Al Gharbieh Secondary School has 530 students from KG to grade 12. Senator Nawal Faoury, president of Al Aqsa Charitable Society, spoke about its role and the importance of the program to local communities.

WFP Deputy Country Director Philippe-Serge Degenier, who also attended the meeting, expressed the agency's readiness to continue supporting the program and help pave the way for it to reach the largest possible number of schools. After the meeting, Her Majesty stopped by a classroom where she met with Al Aqsa Charitable Society kitchen employees who briefed her on the process producing healthy and nutritious food for students and its benefits. Before leaving the school, Queen Rania visited a third grade classroom to check the healthy food packages given to students.

She also attended a short lesson on healthy eating habits being given to the students in an interactive, fun and informative manner, the statement said. The Healthy Kitchen program uses a holistic approach that engages local communities and community-based organizations (CBO), which trickles down the benefits by providing job opportunities for area residents and investing in local suppliers used to procure raw material and equipment.

The selected CBO, Al Aqsa Charitable Society, was established in 1991 under the Ministry of Social Development. The kitchen, which offers home cooked meals and pastries, was set up in 2011 and is located in central Madaba and surrounded by over 20 schools that are part of school feeding program.