Jordan Red Crescent
The Jordan Red Crescent is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. It is committed to follow its Mission Statement:

"To alleviate the suffering of the victims and the vulnerable of natural disasters and armed conflicts and to protect their dignity and rights in a manner that preserves their lives, safety, security and well being."

In all activities our volunteers and staff at Jordan Red Crescent are guided by the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement:

Humanity
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavors, in its international and national capacity, to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found. Its purpose is to protect life and health and ensure respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, co-operation and lasting peace amongst all peoples.

Impartiality
It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions. It endeavors to relieve the suffering of individuals, being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority to the most urgent cases of distress.

Neutrality
In order to continue to enjoy the confidence of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

Independence
The Movement is independent. The National Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services of their governments and subject to the laws of their respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with the Principles of the Movement.

Voluntary Service
It is a voluntary relief movement not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.

Unity
There can be only one Red Cross or Red Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout its territory.

Universality
The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal status and share equal responsibilities and duties in helping each other, is worldwide.

International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement
With a vibrant and varied history - from its origins in the aftermath of battle in 1859 as the vision of founder Henry Dunant, through two world wars and up to today - the Movement is universally acknowledged as an unstoppable force of help and compassion during peace and war. The International Movement is the largest humanitarian network in the world with a presence in 181 countries. Collectively it has almost 97 million volunteers and employs 300,000 people.

The Three Components of the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (the Federation) was founded in 1919 in Paris in the aftermath of World War Its headquarters are now in Geneva. It supports the development of humanitarian activities by National Societies, including emergency relief from natural disasters, the development of new social welfare initiatives, caring for refugees or simply providing comfort for the vulnerable of any society.

The Jordan Red Crescent is one of 181 members of the Federation and provides services to meet local needs all over the Kingdom. It also has a responsibility to assist other members during major disasters and emergencies.

The National Societies of the Red Cross Red Crescent
meet and comply with the aims of the Movement which include adhering and upholding the seven fundamental principles within their countries and through their programmes. Alleviate the suffering of the victims and the vulnerable and protect their dignity and rights in a manner that preserves their lives, safety, security and well being.

Learn more here.

The Jordan Red Crescent endeavors to alleviate suffering by reducing vulnerability and improving the capacity of people who live in situations where their socio-economic security and their human dignity are threatened.

To reduce vulnerability, the JRC develops and implements responsive programmes that have an impact on improving the lives of vulnerable people.

Vocational Training Centre (established 1953)
The JRC runs a Vocational Training Centre which was established when the hospital was founded to achieve the aims of the Jordan Red Crescent in empowering women and providing them with a decent life.

The centre educates young girls and women from the under-privileged sector of society on a set of up to date skills for the clothing and IT sectors e.g. sewing, handicrafts, embroidery, general computer skills, to enable them to secure employment and support their families.

Each vocational teaching period for sewing and embroidery lasts for 11 months and is divided into two stages: basic and advanced. The students receive free tuition from qualified teachers who offer them the necessary raw materials and instruct them on how to use the modern equipment and how to maintain it. At the end of the teaching period the students sit examinations.

Certified by JRC and the Ministry of Education, the centre graduates about 400-500 trained girls and women every year. Very often those graduates enjoy employment priority or are placed in jobs by word of mouth due to the excellent reputation of the vocational centre gained over more than fifty years.

The centre also offers courses in typing in English and Arabic and comprehensive computer training at nominal charge to cover the cost of computer maintenance. It also trains instructors for the branches.

In September 2004 the centre successfully piloted a Hairdressing and Skin Care Course after equipping a beauty Salon with the support of the Australian Embassy. Each four-month course has the capacity to train forty girls. The girls who complete these courses and pass the final exam are given diplomas certified by the Jordan Red Crescent and the Ministry of Education.

The Centre is financed by proceeds from the Red Crescent hospital and donations from sister societies and local benefactors (companies).

Orphans Assistance Programme
Jointly with the UAE Red Crescent the JRC is implementing an orphans assistance programme that covers the whole Kingdom of Jordan.

Since May 2004, the JRC has taken the responsibility for distributing financial assistance to around 1,200 orphans. Money to support the orphans is sent by benefactors in the U.A.E.

The JRC also carries out case- studies, field visits and assessments to provide the UAE Red Crescent with information concerning the well being of those orphans covered by the programme. New cases applying for assistance are investigated and if they meet the criteria their details are forwarded to UAE Red Crescent.

Nurseries and Kindergarten
JRC branches in Ajloun, Madaba and Aqaba run a nursery and 2 Kindergartens respectively on a cost recovery basis. These services take in around 150 children on an annual basis thus offering a low cost service to working mothers. This is in line with the aims of the Jordan Red Crescent to empower women to enable them to provide themselves with a better life.

Community Development Centre
The JRC supports a Community Development Centre in the under-privileged area of Sweileh in Amman. This was established by the University of Jordan in co-operation with McGill University - Canada. It is a community based university linked organisation run by volunteers. It aims to reduce inequality by promoting the entitlements of marginalized and disadvantaged groups and assists them in finding solutions to their collective problems.

The concept behind the project is to transfer ownership of the Centre to the community. Therefore in addition to the social workers and employees the Centre relies on the commitment of a number of volunteers from the area. The social, medical and educational programmes aim at reaching all sections of society including under privileged orphans, youth, elderly, women and dysfunctional families.

Some of the centers major services includes:

Other Social Activities

Prince Abdullah Orphanage
The orphanage was established in 1965 in the Balqa Governorate branch. The orphanage takes full responsibility for around 15 girls and offers them educational, health, social and all other necessary services in a home-like atmosphere.