The Prince of Wales had a busy schedule in Jordan on Sunday. Prince Charles attended five engagements during his second day visiting the country.
Accompanied by International Development Secretary Justine Greening, The Prince of Wales visited the Zaatari refugee Camp in Zaatari, Jordan for his first engagement on Sunday.
Embed from Getty ImagesGreeted at Zaatari Camp by UNHCR representative, Andrew Harper, Charles listened to a brief summary of the work of the organisation at the camp, before proceeding on a tour of the camp.
The tour of the camp consisted of a visit to the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Tazweed Supermarket, financed by the Department for International Development (DFID). Jonathan Campbell, WFP representative, gave Charles an overview of the supermarket and introduced him to a refugees living in the camp who make use of the supermarket’s facilities.
Charles then continued to The United Nations Children’s Youth Empowerment Centre and community centre run by UNICEF and IMC (The International Medical Corps) with the help of UK funding. There he met local children who use the facility, as well as volunteers from the camp who work with UNICEF and IMC.
The visit continued with Prince Charles stopping at the main commercial street of the camp, where many of the refugees have set up small shops. After a short walk, Charles stopped at the local community police station, where volunteer police officers are given training from a British company run by ex-police officers.
Created in 2012, The Zaatari refugee camp is currently home to over eighty thousand refugees. It is one of the country’s ten largest centres of population. The bulk of the refugees living in the camp have come from nearby Syria.
The Prince of Wales arrived at the Safiyeh Bint Abdel Muttaleb School and welcomed by the Headmistress Mrs Lina Zoubi.
Embed from Getty ImagesCharles went on to visit the Safiyeh Bint Abdel Muttaleb School. Welcomed by Headmistress Mrs Lina Zoubi, he toured a new block of classrooms to house the growing number of pupils and met staff and students in one of the classrooms.
The UK government financed the school’s extension, which has helped to increase capacity.
Following the visit the school Charles stopped at the nearby community football pitch where he took in a game between local residents.
The school an all-girls school, for students aged between 15 and 18 years old. The UK government and Mercy Corps (an NGO operating locally) works with the local community to meet the needs of current residents and those of the refugee population. The charity is accomplishing this by working with the local school, and supporting community activities such as the football games organised on the new pitch.
The village of Zaatari has seen a significant rise in residents following an arrival of refugees from Syria. The local community and incoming refugees receive assistance from the UK and Jordanian governments.
The busy day continued for Charles when he met with His Majesty King Abdullah II and attended an interfaith dialogue at the Husseinieh Palace in Amman.
After being greeted by King Abdullah II during the ceremonial arrival, His Majesty and The Prince of Wales stopped for an official photograph before proceeding to the interfaith dialogue, where Charles said a few words.
Prince Charles and Prince Ghazi both have an enduring commitment to encouraging interfaith dialogue and fostering cooperation.
Charles gave an interview The Sunday Hour on BBC Radio 2 in which he discussed his quest to build bridges between religions and his concerns for Christians living in the Middle East. You can read more on his interview as reported by Royal Central here: “Prince Charles discusses concerns for Christians living in the Middle East in Radio 2 interview.”
Charles made a visit to the Syrian Orthodox Church, St Thomas Cathedral in Acton in December 2014. Whilst there, he will met members of the Iraqi and Syrian congregation who have first-hand experience of persecution. In December 2013 The Prince and HRH Prince Ghazi of Jordan visited the Coptic Orthodox Church Centre in Stevenage and the Syrian Orthodox Church in Acton.
The final engagement on Sunday had Prince Charles visit the Zain Innovation Campus (ZINC) in Amman. Launched by Telecoms Company Zain in 2014, Zinc provides high-tech facilities. training programmes and classes to support young people seeking to learn new skills or start-up their own businesses.
Charles met young people who have benefited from the assistance and training received through ZINC, the programme set up by telecom company Zain to assist young Jordanian entrepreneurs and start-ups.
Created by Charles in 2007, Mosaic creates mentoring programmes for young people in deprived areas. The Prince is President of both The Prince’s Trust and Mosaic.
The Prince’s Trust and Mosaic have been working in Jordan with the King Abdullah Development Fund to develop programmes assisting young people since 2013.
After meeting with participants, Charles took a group photo before proceeding to a reception where he briefly addressed the guests in attendance.
The visit will continue when Charles makes a stop in Kuwait stop on Monday.
Featured: photo credit: Fundacion Tres Culturas via photopin (license)
I think it’s great to see him out with the people… more leaders need to care but are too focused on the business worlds and war paths.