Rania Al Abdullah[1] (Arabic: رانيا العبد الله, Rāniyā al-ʻAbd Allāh; born Rania Al-Yassin, 31 August 1970) is Queen of Jordan, as the wife of King Abdullah II.
Her domestic activities include education initiatives and youth programs. Globally, she has campaigned for education and cross-cultural dialogue.
Queen Rania has authored three children's books: The Sandwich Swap, The King’s Gift, and Enduring Beauty.
Rania met Jordanian Prince Abdullah bin Al-Hussein at a dinner party in January 1993. On 10 June 1993, they were married at Zahran Palace.[5] Their wedding ceremony was considered a national holiday. The couple has four children:[5]
[edit]Queen Rania during a dinner celebrating the partnership between the Sesame Workshop and the Mosaic Foundation in Washington, D.C., May 2006
Queen Rania has launched and championed several initiatives in education and learning. Queen Rania has stated that an essential aspect of education is to equip young people with the necessary skills to perform well in the workplace.[9]
In July 2005, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the King and Queen launched an annual teachers' award, the Queen Rania Award for Excellence in Education.[10][11]
The Queen is Chairperson of Jordan's first interactive children's museum, which opened in May 2007.[12][13] In April 2008, the Queen launched "Madrasati" ("My School"), a public-private initiative aimed at refurbishing 500 of Jordan's public schools over a five-year period.[14] Queen Rania also established The Queen Rania Al Abdullah Center for Educational Technology on 6 June 2001, aiming to use modern technology to serve and develop education in Jordan.[15]
The Queen Rania Teacher Academy, which was launched in June 2009, provides professional development programs for current and new teachers in partnership with the Ministry of Education. The Queen Rania Scholarship Program[16] partners with several universities from around the world to support scholarships and training for Jordanian students and workers in management, marketing, design, business administration, psychology, engineering, law, and other fields.[16][17]
The Jordan River Children Program (JRCP) was developed by Queen Rania to place children's welfare above political agendas and cultural taboos.[19] This led to the launch, in 1998, of JRF's Child Safety Program, which addresses the immediate needs of children at risk from abuse and initiated a long-term campaign to increase public awareness about violence against children. The deaths of two children in Amman as a result of child abuse in early 2009 led Queen Rania to call for an emergency meeting of government and non-government (including JRF) stakeholders to discuss where the system was failing.[20]
In 2009, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her husband's accession to the throne, Queen Rania launched a community champion award (Ahel Al Himmeh) to highlight the accomplishments of groups and individuals who have helped their local communities.[21] Queen Rania initiated the Al-Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans in 2003.[22]
In her capacity as Regional Ambassador of INJAZ Al-Arab, Queen Rania has taught classes and engaged in dialogue with young people in other countries; she also launched INJAZ Al-Arab's presence elsewhere in the Arab world.[23] She chaired a discussion with entrepreneurs in celebration of INJAZ Al-Arab's 10th anniversary, showcasing alumni's success stories[24] At the 2008 World Economic Forum in Davos, she launched the "Empowering One Million Arab Youth by 2018" campaign, which was conceived by INJAZ Arabia.[25]
In 2005, Queen Rania established the Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS) to educate parents and children about the basics of nutrition and hygiene, the benefits of exercise, the harms of smoking, and other areas related to health.[26]
In 2011, the first specialized medical building for children was built in Jordan, Queen Rania Children's Hospital, established to improve the medical service for Jordanian children. The hospital provides for the care of children, especially complex medical cases including organ transplants and endoscopic operations.[8]
In November 2000, in recognition of her commitment to the cause of children and youth, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) invited Queen Rania to join its Global Leadership Initiative.[27] In early 2002 Queen Rania joined the Board of Directors of the International Youth Foundation, based in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States.[28] In January 2007, Queen Rania was named UNICEF's first Eminent Advocate for Children.[29] In August 2009, Queen Rania became Honorary Global Chair of the United Nations Girls' Education Initiative (UNGEI).[30]
As a longtime supporter of the Global Campaign for Education (GCE),[31] Queen Rania met with children and inspirational women in South Africa, both in the cities of Johannesburg and Soweto, in March 2009.[32] One of the stories in the book, "Maha of the Mountains", was contributed by Queen Rania.[33][34]
During her April 2009 US trip, Queen Rania joined leading education advocates Congresswoman Nita Lowey and Counsellor to the Secretary of the Treasury Gene Sperling to launch "The Big Read" as part of Global Campaign for Education's global action week calling for quality basic education for all children.[35] She was also hosted by first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, during that same trip.[36]
On 20 August 2009, Queen Rania co-founded and led the launch of the "1GOAL: Education for All" campaign alongside Gary Lineker, and with the help of top international footballers at Wembley Stadium, London.[37] On 6 October 2009, Queen Rania was joined by Prime Minister Gordon Brown of the UK, the president of FIFA, Sepp Blatter, President Jacob Zuma of South Africa, and other heads of state, for the Global Launch of 1GOAL, which took place across six locations worldwide.[38][39]
Cross-cultural dialogue
[edit]With Sajid Javid at the Supporting Syria and the Region conference, 2016
Queen Rania has also been particularly vocal about the importance of cross-cultural and interfaith dialogue to foster greater understanding, tolerance and acceptance across the world.[40] She has used her status to correct what she sees as misconceptions in the West about the Arab world.[41]
Queen Rania has played a significant role in reaching out to the global community to foster values of tolerance and acceptance, and increase cross-cultural dialogue. For example, regionally and internationally, Queen Rania has campaigned for a greater understanding between cultures in such high-profile forums as the Jeddah Economic Forum,[42]Harvard Kennedy SchoolatHarvard University,[43] and the Skoll Foundation[44] in the UK. She has also made public appearances, including a half-hour television interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show on 17 May 2006, where she spoke about misconceptions about Islam and especially women in Islam.[45][46][47]
In September 2006, Queen Rania also joined the United Nations Foundation board of directors.[48] The UN Foundation builds and implements public-private partnerships to address the world's most pressing problems, and broadens support for the UN through advocacy and public outreach.[49]
An emissary for the United Nations' International Year of Microcredit in 2005, Queen Rania's belief in microfinance and her partnership with FINCA[50] has generated more Jordanian micro-businesses, with the official opening of FINCA Jordan in February 2008.[51]
In October 2020, Queen Rania was named as a member of the Earthshot Prize Council, an initiative of Prince William to find solutions to environmental issues.[52]
[edit]Queen Rania has a large audience across multiple social media platforms.[53]
Queen Rania has used YouTube as a way to promote intercultural dialogue by calling on young people around the world to engage in a global dialogue to dismantle stereotypes of Muslims and the Arab world.[54] On 30 March 2008, Queen Rania launched her own YouTube channel, initially to invite viewers to give their opinions of the Middle East and talk about stereotypes they may have of Arabs and Muslims.[55] Between 30 March and 12 August (International Youth Day), Queen Rania posted videos on YouTube in which she asked people to send her their questions about Islam and the Arab world.[56] She provided responses to those questions and explained her view of the truth about various Arab and Muslim stereotypes. Over five months she posted videos on subjects that included honour killings, terrorism and the rights of Arab women.[57] International personalities such as Dean Obeidallah,[58]Maz Jobrani,[59] and YouTube star Mia Rose[60] also contributed videos to the campaign.
In 2008, Queen Rania participated in YouTube's In My Name[61] campaign. She appeared alongside The Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am in the video, "End Poverty – Be the Generation,"[62] which urged world leaders to keep the promises they made in 2000 at the United Nations Millennium Summit.
To coincide with the visit of Pope Benedict XVI to Jordan on Friday, 8 May 2009, Queen Rania started using the micro-blogging website Twitter with the username @QueenRania.[63] On the occasion of the World Economic Forum held at the Dead Sea in Jordan, June 2009, she conducted her first Twitter interview, answering five questions from the general public via her Twitter account.[64]
As a tribute to King Hussein, and on the first anniversary of his death, Queen Rania produced The King's Gift, a children's book about him.[65] Proceeds of the book go to the benefit of underprivileged children across Jordan.
Her second book, entitled Eternal Beauty, which she wrote in celebration of Mother's Day 2008 tells the story of a young girl's conversation with a little sheep as she searches for the most beautiful thing in the world. The book was released as part of the Greater Amman Municipality's contest, called "Mama's Story".[66]
For the 2009 Big Read event, Queen Rania wrote "Maha of the Mountains", a short story which tells of a young girl's determination to get an education and the challenges she faced.[33]
The Sandwich Swap is a book inspired by an incident in her childhood. It tells the story of Lily and Salma, two best friends, who argue over the 'yucky' taste of their respective peanut butter and jelly and hummus sandwiches. The girls then overcome and embrace their differences. The book was co-authored by Queen Rania and Kelly DiPucchio.[67][68] In May 2010 the book went to the top of the New York Times Bestseller List for children's books.[69]
Queen Rania campaigned for Petra to be voted as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World, including personally welcoming New7Wonders[70] to Petra during its official world tour.[71]
For their Global Action Week in April 2009, the Global Campaign for Education named Queen Rania their Honorary Chairperson.[72]
In early 2002, Queen Rania joined the board of directors of the International Youth Foundation, based in Baltimore, Maryland, in the United States.[28]
In September 2002, Queen Rania became a member of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Foundation Board.[73] She is also on the Foundation Board of the Forum of Young Global Leaders (YGL) and has been the chairperson for the Nominations and Selection Committee since July 2004, when the forum was established.[74]
2017: The Fellowship Award from Fashion for Relief in Recognition of Her Majesty's Humanitarian Efforts Towards Children Caught in Conflict, France[110]
2018: The Influential Personality of the Year Award, at the third annual Arab Social Media Influencers Summit (ASMIS) in Dubai[111]
2020: The PWI Most Beautiful Woman In The World Award 2020[112]
^ ab"'Dedem Türk'tü Türk kültürüyle büyüdüm'". Sabah (in Turkish). 26 December 2009. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021. Aslında dedem Türk'tür. Annemin babası. Bu nedenle Türk müziği dinleyerek büyüdüm. Türk yemekleriyle yetiştim. Bunların hepsi benim geçmişimin bir parçası. Çocukluğumdan beri Türk kültürünün tüm unsurlarıyla iç içe büyüdüm. [Actually my grandfather was Turkish. My mother's father. That's why I grew up listening to Turkish music. I grew up with Turkish food. This is all part of my past. Since my childhood, I grew up with all the elements of Turkish culture.]
^"Queen Rania". Biography.com. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2024.
^"Royal Decree 502/2006". Boletin Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). 22 April 2006. BOE-A-2006-7242. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
^"Royal Decree 1605/1999". Boletin Oficial del Estado (in Spanish). 19 October 1999. BOE-A-1999-20603. Archived from the original on 25 December 2015. Retrieved 19 July 2024.
Jordan:
Knight Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of Al-Hussein bin Ali. (9 June 1999)
Knight Grand Cordon, Special Class of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance (6 March 2024).[80]
Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold (18 May 2016).[81]
Germany: Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (21 October 2002).[82]
Italy: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (19 October 2009).[83]
Japan: Grand Cordon (Paulownia) 1st Class of the Order of the Precious Crown (4 December 1999).[84]
Portugal:
Spain:
