Amman, Jordan – June 2, 2010 – IRD Jordan successfully hosted a three-day visit by Board Members Mr. Harold Cranston and Mr. Jack Gilbert. Mr. Cranston and Mr. Gilbert arrived in Jordan from the West Bank where they visited IRD projects in both countries. In Jordan, both members met and discussed relevant issues with IRD staff, visited two local IRD projects and even found some time to visit the ancient city of Petra. 

Mr. Cranston and Mr. Gilbert visited the Community Based Support Program (CBSP-2) at the Ein Al Basha Training Center, which provides vocational training leading to employment opportunities among a targeted population of Iraqis residing in Jordan.  They observed classes in session, and took advantage of the opportunity to speak with students about their participation in the course, the benefits of taking the course along with what they would like in the future from IRD.  The Board Members also participated in the graduation ceremonies of the cooking, mobile phone repair and painting trainees, where they congratulated students while passing out course completion certificates and tool kits.  After a busy morning of participating in the Vocational programming, Mr. Cranston and Mr. Gilbert, sat down to a delicious lunch prepared by women who have participated and graduated from the IRD sponsored Home Food Production and Marketing Course.  This training provides female beneficiaries with the skills to prepare and sell traditional sweets, savory pastries, and pickled products within their local communities.

Mr. Cranston and Mr. Gilbert also visited the Community Mobilization for Partnership (CMP) in Schools Project. The CMP Program develops dynamic community-school partnerships that serve as sustainable mechanisms for the institutionalization of participatory approaches to educational reform and create a sense of ownership and responsibility among all stakeholders within the public school system. They traveled to the Al Thaher Babres Basic Primary School, located in the Jordan Valley (better known as the Dead Sea area: the lowest point on Earth), where they participated in a School “Open Day” Celebration for the parents and community, which included student presentations of poetry, puppet theater, local dance, karate, and the graduation of the first grade English class. In addition the Board Members met with the members of the CMP Community-Parent-School Coalition (CPSC) to discuss initiatives and activities for school and community improvement implemented by the CPSC as well as current relevant issues. The Board Members also visited a third grade classroom that has received a donation of XO laptops from IRD and the One Laptop per Child Program. 

Upon the end of their visit, Mr. Gilbert commented “I am grateful that IRD continues to work with Iraqi beneficiaries and has expanded its work with Jordanians and Palestinians. Looking at the opportunities that IRD Jordan is embracing in Education and Community Capacity Building, it is very exciting.”