ammonnews.net

By Madeleine Mezagopian

Numbers of local and foreign commentators were intrigued and equally impressed with Jordan escaping the Arab Spring almost unscratched. This reality much materialized due to the non-violent comportment of both the demonstrators and the security personnel during relatively few demonstrations of low participation which but reflects the wise and tolerant approach of the security institutions, in addition to over two decades of ongoing reforms despite occasional fluctuations in the reform path.

However, what many missed is Jordan providing the right milieu not only to avoid the destructive repercussions of the so called Arab spring. Jordan did and continues to conceive success stories involving the most humane aspect of human development, improving if not dignifying the lives of peoples with physical disabilities.

In February 2104, under the umbrella of the Spanish Fundación Promoción Social de la Cultura (FPSC) supported by the Spanish Government represented by the Agency for International Cooperation in Development (ACID), during a two-day conference on Success Stories and Democratic Governance in the Middle East in the holy city of Jerusalem, hand in hand, Palestinians, Jordanians, both religious and secular figures, academicians and practitioners, in addition to European Union and United Nations representatives listened to and celebrated a success story from Jordan amid the Arab Spring materialized by Al-Hussein Society (AHS) and echoed by its Executive Director.

Facilitated by Jordan's stability, prevalent security and availability of relevant institutions, in addition to Jordan being a signatory to six major UN conventions on human rights including those pertinent persons with disabilities, and motivated by and targeting improvement of the quality of life of persons with disabilities by ensuring accessibility to services and vocational training, a project was initiated targeting the city of Zarqa of scarce services and high number of persons with disabilities. In 2010, AHS entered into partnership with Zarqa Governorate to coordinate with all the concerned ministries resulting in a coordination workshop which gave birth to a coordination committee comprising all relevant pubic and private institutions including the Palestinian Affairs. Two vocational training units and workshops crowned the project. Four health centres were adapted to become accessible by persons with disabilities and by elderly people in addition to schools identified by the local communities who are represented in the coordination committee and whose wishes and consents accompanied each step of the project.

According to the Ministry of Health, the number of elderly people and persons with disabilities who visited the health centres in Zarqa increased substantially and AHS has become a best practice model for others to follow. Indeed this certificate represents concrete indicators of the success not only of this specific project but of the AHS of number of successful projects, under Royal presidency and in adherence to Monarch's recommendations, targeting the most destitute parts of the kingdom in addition to the Palestinian and Syrian refugee camps.

The success involves one aspect of human development however of diverse implications. The successful materialization of the project simply signifies all the authorities rendering relevant services are adequately functioning whether Ministry of social development, Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education through providing the right platforms for the successful implementation of AHS' projects and provided services.

Hence, this one success story ceases to represent the success of the project itself. Rather it manifests the evolution of national reforms enabling such institutions to gain credibility and authenticity allowing it to attract partners and diversify its services and beneficiaries locally and regionally.

In the light of above mentioned, the question arises itself whether AHS represents Jordan, a success story in a nutshell, together with all the elements of success foremost the human aspect of having the right person in the right place on all levels foremost executive?