Ammon News - By Madeleine Mezagopian

For some time now and Amman's residents are exposed to the echo of celebrations of different levels of graduates. Teachers, parents and administrators keep on exerting tremendous efforts towards enhancing the knowledge and skills of Jordanian youth. However, I modestly and with immense confidence declare no efforts and contribution equal those exerted by a very special team of dedicated staff at the Al-Hussein Society, where young physically challenged children graduate after few years of education to avoid becoming a secluded segment of the society and get integrated as early as possible in ordinary schools and in social life at large.

After two days of relaxing in what I call one of the world's unique gems, the Dead Sea, I made sure not to miss this year's graduation of Al-Hussein Society's school students, an event which brings joy and hope that Jordan is in the right track towards realizing comprehensive human security. Sitting relaxed with a big smile and tears in my eyes I watched the state of the art performance around the theme gender equality/social diversity while contemplating the immense efforts and time invested to ensure such disciplined acts by individuals whose intellectual capacities are usually overlooked by many in our society, though generously respected, advanced and exposed by the Society's dedicated team who made sure the whole intellectual input is totally homemade.

The charismatic, dignified, empowered children encouraged and motivated by their biological caring parents and by their spiritual parents TRH Prince Raad bin Zeid and Princess Majda Raad, whose sincerity in following up and promoting the interests of these children is easily detected, expressed their joy but equally their sorrow for departing their safe haven while singing, dancing, giving speeches and above all through most impressive and brave performance on gender equality.

Sitting among the parents and few of the invitees listening to the achievements of Al-Hussein Society through its Executive Director who underlined the need to receive all possible support to expand the beneficiaries of their services and secure preserving the Society's highly qualified staff despite Society's innovative measures to generate income through becoming service and training providers, I couldn't but inquire why such promising events representing climax of preserved human dignity keep on not attracting enough audience and interest amid nation-wide calls to secure human dignity.

Are we sincere in our calls? Do we pay equal attention to achievements enhancing children human rights however far from generating celebrity and rewards? Do we truly love all of our children that we strive to dedicate time to pay tribute to and appreciate their achievements especially on their graduation day irrespective their social status or their differences? Why we don't take a pause amid persistent demonstrations calling for democracy and its integral aspect of human rights and celebrate great advocacy of human rights through such events as the graduation of challenged children of Al-Hussein Society which made its mission overcoming all challenges impeding the enhancement of our physically challenged children for over four decades?

It's high time to stop shouting and start acting following the steps of this model humane entity which will always remain a shining star enlightening the path of reforms not only in Jordan but in the region at large.


Madeleine Mezagopian
Academic Researcher and Advisor
Conflict Resolution/Peace and
Socioeconomic and Political Development