Jordan River Foundation
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Jordan River Foundation, also known as Jordan River Designs is a non-profit organization started in December 1995 in Amman, Jordan to promote Jordanian arts. The foundation is currently led by Queen Rania Al-Abdullah.[1] The group's mission statement reads as follows:
"The foundation's mission is to enhance the social, economic and educational well-being of the people of Jordan though creating and supporting projects."
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[edit] Showroom
Located on Jabal Amman, the Jordan River Foundation showroom occupies the house built in the 1936[2] by Salim al-Odat.[3] Odat rented the house to the British army which then occupied Jordan throughout the 1930s to be used as offices. He sold it in 1939, after which it went through a number of owners in which it was used as a house, a police station, and a school during the 1960s. But in the 1980s, the house was abandoned and fell into disrepair.[3] Then, at the end of the decade, when a potential buyer threatened to tear down the house, architect Zaid al-Qoussous bought it so as to preserve the house. In 1994, the house was bought and renovated by the Jordan River Foundation to be used as their showroom.[3] Several companies and embassies contributed to the renovation:[2]
- USAID
- Embassy of Japan
- Canadian Embassy
- Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Australian Embassy
- Othman Mohamed Ali Bdeir
- Arab Technical Group
- Heating Supplies Company
- Technolinks
[edit] Bani Hamida Women's Weaving Project
The Bani Hamida Women's Weaving Project is one of the projects hosted by the Jordan River Foundation. Based in Mukawir, near Madaba, the project works to promote bedouin handicrafts and to improve economic and social well being of bedouin women and children.[4] The Bani Hamida handicrafts are displayed in the Jordan River Foundation showroom.
