~*~Humera~*~ said:
Pictures of Queen Rania from today - June 20, 2005
Article to go with the pictures
AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania officially launched the Women's Access to Entrepreneurship Development and Training (WAEDAT) Programme on Monday, which has so far helped 122 Jordanian women entrepreneurs expand their existing businesses.
WAEDAT was established in 2004 to offer training and counselling to women entrepreneurs in the healthcare, food processing, cosmetics, business-to-business and handicrafts sectors in Amman, Irbid, Zarqa and Madaba.
WAEDAT Programme Director Wijdan Abu Leil briefed Queen Rania, several ministers, US Charge D'Affaires David Hale, Acting USAID Director David Barth and NGOs representatives on the endeavour's achievements.
A group of 11 WAEDAT beneficiaries demonstrated how they were able to link their businesses after joining the programme.
“WAEDAT differs from other similar programmes because the services offered are not limited to training and expert advice,” said Abu Leil.
“It promotes and facilitates business networking and builds linkages between women in different businesses and market sectors with intensive follow-up,” she added.
According to Abu Leil, the programme will expand geographically to reach women in Aqaba, Ajloun and Balqa, and is set to increase the number of beneficiaries to 270 by mid-2006.
At an informal meeting with WAEDAT participants following the launch ceremony, Queen Rania lauded the spirit of initiative, confidence and determination of Jordanian women benefiting from the programmes aimed at empowering them through microfinance and small businesses.
“You have taken the sector to newer heights. The networking among you will further enhance your capabilities, expand your horizons as you share in the development of the country,” she told the women entrepreneurs.
Sharing the success stories and ambitions of the women, Queen Rania noted the qualitative leap in terms of products and outreach as well as the opportunities such programmes have been providing.
WAEDAT, or “promising women” in Arabic, is designed to provide business-related training and capacity building to women entrepreneurs to ensure their sustained economic growth.
The $1.2 million programme, financed by the USAID's AMIR Programme, has helped its participants achieve 25 per cent overall increase in sales, and 10 per cent increase in employment, according to Abu Leil.
http://www.jordantimes.com/tue/homenews/homenews2.htm
