Madeleine Mezagopian

This week Jordan celebrated the 64th birthday of HM King Abdullah II. One cannot but contemplate on what would be the gift dearest and most precious to the caring heart and to the wise brain of HM King Abdullah II.

The choice is easy to underline. Any development that indicates the wellbeing of the people of Jordan specially the vulnerable members of the society, surely not their innate vulnerability but the vulnerability of the families and of the society at large, together with the high level and quality of relevant human conducts and interaction is the gift most favored by His Majesty.
Yes, the right choice of gift was presented to HM the day preceding his birthday by Al Hussein Society Jordan Center for training and Inclusion (AHS).

On Thursday, January 29, 2026, a rare if not a pioneer unprecedented event took place bringing together key actors involved in community based inclusive development from the south, north and center of Jordan. On this day and under the patronage of the Prime Minister Dr. Jaafar Hassan, AHS organized National Conference on Community Based Inclusive Development culminating the outcome of three years of intensive efforts in training all relevant centers and the relevant public institutions that secure the integration of people with disabilities in their relevant societies in Ramtha, Karak, Salt.

Emboldened by the great legacy of late Princess Majeda Raad, Mrs. Annie Mezagopian Abu-Hanna, the Executive Director of AHS together with her multi gifted, devoted and dedicated team and surely with the collaboration of committed partners Christian Blind Mission (cbm) and German Cooperation altogether did deliver the gift most precious to the heart of HM King Abdullah II.

The conference celebrated the culmination of three years efforts dedicated to increased access to inclusive services at the community level by promoting a community-based inclusive development approach on national level with special emphasis on towns rather than big cities.

The success of these great efforts were not highlighted through abstract ego-centric statements by AHS representatives. Rather the success was highlighted by great teams representing both the relevant centers and the service providing public institutions from Karak, Ramtha and Salt who vehemently highlighted the most productive collaboration with AHS whose training did upgrade their services and surely enhanced community-based integration of peoples with disabilities.

However, the climax outcome of this bridge between AHS and the centers and the institutions on national level is the virtuous circle AHS initiated between the centers delivering services to the people with disabilities and the public institutions enhancing the integration of the people with disabilities in their relevant societies. In this respect and based on the testimonies of these centers. AHS projects did contribute in upgrading the infrastructures of these areas at large.

Further, the conference was enriched with singing theatrical performance of the children with disabilities whose voices and body language simply reflected their empowerment quality and level combined with their determination and perseverance at their early age to become productive members of the society.

Such a distinct performance and given the experience of this author with such performances of however much modest level in some most advanced countries, AHS can be easily categorized as not only a regional model in the field, but surely a global model in the field to be learned from .

In connection to the speech of Minister of Social Development Wafaa Bani Mustafa who with great pride underlined the achievement pertinent to the closure of accommodation shelters for people with disabilities. The closure of such shelters is not a solution at a time family violence is a prevalent phenomenon in Jordan where people with disabilities suffer most from such violence. However even in this respect the AHS constructive role is quite evident given the ongoing efforts of AHS in having the families of the people with disabilities well informed and educated to eventually shoulder properly their responsibilities in shaping a proper life and future for their children.

Last but surely not least, AHS through their ongoing efforts in not only being equipped with great team but equally through sharing their policies and achievements and targets with the members of their General Assembly, the houses of worship are motivated to have the houses of worship accessible. These efforts did contribute in several churches becoming accessible where the person with disabilities have not only access to the church but equally has access to the halls for celebrations and condolences.

Yes, not only the latest technologies adopted by a country reflect the level of its development, but equally if not of more significance and relevance is the level and quality of human conducts towards each other foremost involving people with disabilities surely stands as best indicator of the level of development and civilization of any nation.

And yes, AHS did and continue through its efforts in upgrading the human conducts in Jordan where the outcome of CBID is a crucial element hence it does represent most precious gift to HM King Abdullah II on his 64th birthday.