Jordanians celebrate Queen Rania's birthday

Today, Saturday, August 31, marks the birthday of Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah. This year, she received a significant honor as King Abdullah II awarded her the Order of Al-Nahda (Supreme Order of the Renaissance) in recognition of her exceptional contributions and leadership in advancing Jordanian society and her dedication to serving the people of Jordan.

This recognition came in light of the silver jubilee of King Abdullah II's ascension to the throne. In a heartfelt message to Queen Rania, King Abdullah expressed his gratitude, saying, "Wherever I go, I am met with warm greetings and deep appreciation for your efforts in nurturing our nation and instilling hope in the future of our sons and daughters. The love for you as their queen and the mother of their Crown Prince is evident in their eyes."

A Legacy of Service and Initiatives
Since her marriage to King Abdullah, Queen Rania has been deeply committed to serving the people of Jordan. She has supported numerous programs and initiatives that complement and build upon the efforts of national institutions.

Queen Rania has launched various initiatives to support education in Jordan, focusing on teacher training, providing opportunities for orphans, and promoting excellence in schools. She has also emphasized the importance of family as the foundation of society, establishing the National Council for Family Affairs to support Jordanian families.

Through the Jordan River Foundation, Queen Rania has championed community empowerment and institutional capacity-building for local organizations. The foundation has implemented successful projects such as the Jordan River Designs and Wadi Al-Rayan projects, along with culinary arts initiatives. Additionally, the foundation runs programs to protect women and children from abuse and promote safe parenting practices.

In 2013, the Queen Rania Foundation for Education and Development was established to support her educational initiatives. In 2014, the "Edraak" platform was launched, transforming the use of technology in education and enriching Arabic educational content online.

Queen Rania's commitment to education extends to the Queen Rania Teacher Academy, launched in 2009, which focuses on developing professional training programs for educators. In 2005, she and King Abdullah II established the Queen Rania Award for Distinguished Teacher to honor exceptional educators in Jordan.

The Al-Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans, founded in 2003, provides education and skills to orphans over 18, helping them transition into independent lives.

Queen Rania has also worked to improve the learning environment in public schools through the "Madrasati" initiative, launched in 2008. This program has rehabilitated over 500 public schools across Jordan, creating safe and healthy environments for students and promoting extracurricular activities.

In 2007, the Children's Museum Jordan was opened as a non-profit educational institution, offering interactive exhibits and educational programs to inspire children and families.

Queen Rania continues her outreach across Jordan, visiting rural and urban communities, engaging with the youth, and listening to their experiences in entrepreneurship, volunteering, and charitable activities.

Advocating for Gaza on the Global Stage
This year, Queen Rania used her global platform to highlight the suffering of the people in Gaza. During international interviews and a panel discussion at the Milken Institute Global Conference in Los Angeles, she called for a just resolution to the Palestinian issue and condemned the Israeli aggression.

Queen Rania stressed that the world’s failure to stop the atrocities in Gaza sets a dangerous precedent. She urged the international community, including the United States, to use its political influence to pressure Israel to end the war and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. She also emphasized that Israel's actions are not only a betrayal of the people of Gaza but also a threat to global security.

Queen Rania called for an immediate end to Israel's collective punishment of Gaza and its violations against Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza. She condemned the use of starvation as a weapon of war, labeling it a war crime, and highlighted Israel's disregard for Palestinian lives.