Representing Amer Al-Khawaldeh, President of the General Union of Voluntary Societies, Zaid Al-Zaboun—Head of the Union of Voluntary Societies in Jerash Governorate and Media Coordinator for the General Union—participated in the inauguration of the Al-Ma’rad Comprehensive Center for Inclusive Day Services in the Al-Ma’rad District of Jerash Governorate. The center was opened by the Minister of Social Development, Wafaa Bani Mustafa, in the presence of officials, representatives of official and community sectors, and local residents.
Jalila Al-Samadi, President of the Jordanian Women's Union, also participated in the opening ceremony.
The participation of Al-Zaboun and Al-Samadi underscores the importance of supporting national efforts to enhance social and humanitarian services for persons with disabilities and their families. It also highlights the need to solidify partnerships among official institutions, unions, voluntary societies, and various segments of the local community, thereby contributing to improved service quality, the empowerment of target groups, and their integration into society.
Al-Zaboun emphasized the significance of opening the center in the Al-Ma’rad District, noting that it represents a qualitative addition to the social and rehabilitative services available to the governorate's residents. He commended the efforts of the Ministry of Social Development and its partners in providing specialized services close to the beneficiaries' homes, thereby alleviating the burden of travel and repeated visits for families.
For her part, Al-Samadi highlighted the center's importance in supporting persons with disabilities and their families. She noted that providing specialized services within local areas improves accessibility and reflects the vital importance of integrating official, civil, and voluntary efforts in the service of the community. Minister of Social Development Wafaa Bani Mustafa inaugurated the Al-Ma’rad Comprehensive Center for Inclusive Day Services. Established through a partnership between the Ministry and the Association of Banks in Jordan, the center aims to provide integrated, specialized services for persons with disabilities and enhance their access to them.
Bani Mustafa emphasized that the center’s opening aligns with Royal directives regarding the care, protection, inclusion, and empowerment of persons with disabilities. She noted that the center serves as a model of partnership between state institutions and the private sector, as well as an example of corporate social responsibility.
She explained that the Ministry of Agriculture provided the building to the Ministry of Social Development, while the Association of Banks in Jordan and participating banks funded its renovation and equipping, transforming it into a hub for inclusive day services and integrated social services.
She stated that the center houses an early intervention unit, along with offices for both the Ministry of Social Development and the National Aid Fund. This enables district residents to access social services and financial aid close to their homes, eliminating the need to visit the Social Development Directorate and the National Aid Fund office in the central district of Jerash.
Bani Mustafa noted that the center’s services are provided free of charge by qualified, trained staff. These services include special education; physical, occupational, and speech therapy; family counseling; life skills development; and rehabilitation and training programs.
She added that the center has a capacity of 120 beneficiaries, distributed across two main sections. The first component is the Early Intervention Unit, which targets children from birth to age six with a capacity of approximately 60 children. It aims to facilitate the early detection of disabilities and developmental delays, provide necessary rehabilitation services, and offer guidance and empowerment to families to help them address their children's needs.
The second component is the Inclusive Day-Care Center, which serves individuals with disabilities aged six and older, accommodating around 60 beneficiaries. It provides services tailored to various types of disabilities and individual needs, thereby helping to develop beneficiaries' capabilities, foster their independence, and facilitate their integration into society.
Bani Mustafa noted that the Ministry has opened 73 early intervention units across the Kingdom, in addition to mobile early intervention services. She emphasized that these services have helped reach families in remote areas, encouraging them to seek screening and access available services.
Bani Mustafa commended the support provided by the Association of Banks in Jordan, highlighting the importance of an ongoing partnership to expand the scope of services available to persons with disabilities throughout the Kingdom.
Maher Al-Mahrouq, Director General of the Association of Banks in Jordan, praised the cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development. He underscored the importance of this partnership in supporting community-oriented initiatives, noting that the Association has supported the Al-Ma'rad Center as well as other projects—including mobile early intervention units, a behavior modification center in the Birin area, and various other service-oriented initiatives.