JANUARY 2016 ISSUE 15
A M o n t h ly M a g a z i n e o n K n o w l e d g e a n d D e v e lo p m e n t b y t h e M o h amm e d B i n R a s h i d A l M ak to u m F o u n d at i o n
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s the CEO of Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation (AHSF), Ms Valentina Qussisiya is leading the Foundation’s efforts to invest in cultural and social innovation to positively impact the communities through its three pillars: thought leadership, arts and literature, and employment and innovation. She is also an active member of Jordan’s National Centre for Human Rights board of trustees and a member of Al-Balqa’ Applied University board of trustees. Before joining AHSF, she had held the position of Director General of the Jordan River Foundation, where she played a key role in initiating and supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and child safety programmes. Flashes met Ms Qussisiya in Dubai on the opening day at the Knowledge Summit 2015, where she moderated the fourth session on Scientific Research, Innovation and Development. The following are the excerpts of the interview: 30 flashes / JANUARY 2016
Power of the written word
Can you describe the Foundation’s efforts to invest in cultural and social innovation and its positive impact in Jordan. As part of its commitment to Thought Leadership, AHSF aims to strengthen knowledge and advance dialogue for pluralistic societies. This is accomplished through the Abdul Hameed Shoman Cultural Forum, Abdul Hameed Shoman Fund for Scientific Research and the Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Arab Researchers, in addition to its Science and Education Programme. The Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Arab Researchers was launched in 1982, and is awarded in appreciation of distinguished published scientific works, which have contributed to promoting Arab applied and scientific knowledge, increasing awareness and promoting a culture of scientific research, as well as addressing modern-day issues and priorities at the local, regional and international levels.
Va l e n t i n a Q u s s i s i ya
Focus more on youth entrepreneurship, employability
Policies should be targeting young people and provide sufficient support to help them start businesses, says Valentina Qussisiya, CEO, Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation in Jordan
Through its investments in Arts and Literature, AHSF aims to promote greater voice, expression and recognition of the arts, culture and literature. AHSF supports art and literary spaces, accessibility of performing arts for all, and recognition and publication of Arab creativity in literature. The Abdul Hameed Shoman Public Library was established in 1986, as the first well-equipped and fully computerised public library in Jordan. Presently, the library offers free Wi-Fi and access to international resources and databases for students and researchers. The library also helps organise various literary activities such as book launches and book signings, and hosts various book clubs’ discussions. The library also provides capacity-building workshops for its patrons in addition to specialised trainings for librarians from Jordan and across the Arab region. Since its establishment and as part of its community outreach, the library has helped establish 13 municipal libraries across the Kingdom and
supports 14 municipal libraries in Palestine. In 2013, the library released a second edition of The Expanded Thesaurus (Maknaz) in its web- based version in cooperation with Dubai Culture and Arts Authority and Juma Al Majid Heritage and Culture Centre. The Expanded Thesaurus (Maknaz) is the largest Arabic trilingual thesaurus that covers all fields of knowledge and serves as the main subject analysis tool for different information sources. Knowledge Path Library for Children and Youth was launched in 2013 to provide a dynamic, open space and nurturing environment for children and youth (of three to 16 years of age) from different backgrounds to read, interact and participate in fun and creative activities as part of their intellectual and creative journey to self-discovery and awareness. In addition to its daily storytelling and creative activities, the Knowledge Path Library runs its own summer and winter programmes, offers capacity building workshops for children, and hosts monthly book signing ceremonies for renowned authors
www.mbrf.ae
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of children books, in addition to science shows and children book club sessions in collaboration with local and international parties. Through the Abdul Hameed Shoman Award for Children’s Literature, the Foundation recognises and promotes the publication of distinguished Arabic literary works specifically for children and youth. The Award was launched in 2006, in an effort to address the growing demand for increased and improved Arabic literature and content for children that can further enrich creativity at an early age. Images of progress The Cinema Programme was initiated in 1989, to promote a culture of cinema and filmmaking as a form of expression, and contribute to the growth of the film industry in Jordan. The Programme mainly consists of weekly screenings of carefully selected world movies ranging from classics to modern and experimental film genres at the Foundation’s cinema hall. The film screenings are usually followed by a discourse/ critiquing session among renowned critic and/ or filmmaker and the audience. For persons interested in filmmaking, the programme often holds workshops on topics ranging from scenario and script writing to film editing. Moreover, as an advocate of world cinema, the programme regularly organises local, regional and international film weeks in partnership with different entities. The Children’s Cinema Programme was launched in 2014, to enhance the critical thinking of children and youth, and heighten their appreciation for the arts through filmmaking workshops and monthly free film screenings followed by discussions.
Let the numbers do the talking The Foundation balances scientific research to build an economic base along with cultural awakening through promoting the humanities. How do you do this successfully?
For over 37 years, AHSF has been balancing scientific research to build an economic base along with cultural awakening through promoting the humanities by driving innovation through its investment in intellectual prosperity. ✑ The Abdul Hameed Shoman Arab Scientific Researchers Award has been granted to 390 researchers representing 69 Arab
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Universities and Scientific Institutes ✑ The AHSF Scientific Research Fund has provided more than 1 million Jordanian Dinars worth in grants to 98 Jordanian research works. ✑ The Forum held more than 1,500 assemblies celebrating prominent thought leaders, discussing various issues while providing direct interaction to over 180 attendees weekly and 81 publications in addition to raising awareness online. ✑ The Cinema Programme held more than 60 local, Arab and International Film Weeks and hosted more than 1500 screenings. ✑ By end of this year, the AHS Children Literature Award was granted to 18 of the 400 authors who have applied for the award from Jordan and the Arab World. ✑ Sponsored more than 250 activities and initiatives that aim to realise Intellectual Prosperity. ✑ Since 2014, the Foundation approved more than 100 applications and proposals in
The Knowledge Path Library runs its own summer and winter programmes, offers capacity building workshops for children, and hosts monthly book signing ceremonies for renowned authors of children books
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grants and sponsorships support distributed across the three programmes.
Finding solutions for the future of the middle east Personally, you have played a key role in initiating and supporting youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, sustainable development, poverty alleviation, and child safety. Tell us about your involvement and your views on possible solutions to these issues in the region? During my tenure at the Jordan River Foundation (JRF) we focused on community development and child protection. We aimed to empower communities, including the more vulnerable ones, to participate in creating their own economic opportunities, and improving the quality of their lives through creative reorganisation of the natural, human and economic resources at local levels. Community members were trained to identify and select appropriate projects that would enhance their economic, social and environmental conditions. Community participation and engagement was key in selecting and designing projects that are economically sound and sustainable. Projects were owned and implemented by local community members where they also received on-the-job training to build their capacity along the way. Child protection is a neglected issue in our Arab region and is considered a taboo subject. While with JRF, we have worked on a national protection policy and a national family protection system that provided a multidisciplinary model that provide holistic services to the children reported within the system. A temporary treatment centre (Dar Al Aman) has been established to ensure providing the comprehensive treatment and care for the children, while campaigns and protection centres were established to enhance positive child rearing practices and help strengthen positive healthy interactions between family members. Unemployment among youth is very high in the Arab region. And community development cannot happen if you don’t involve youth in every step of the way. Youth should be part of every decision made in their communities. Training programmes were given to youth to help them start their own businesses, including entrepreneurship education and training; information, www.mbrf.ae
advice, coaching and mentoring and financial support. They also received training on basic life skills, technical skills and project management skills to allow them to be key players in the social and economic development of their communities. Grants and micro funding were provided to youth who are interested to start their own businesses, while linkages with employment opportunities for those who are more inclined to enter the labour market. The region should focus more on youth entrepreneurship and employability. Policies should be targeting young people and provide sufficient support to help them start their businesses in different sectors. Support should include skill building, networking and financial support. Continuous monitoring and mentoring should be provided to ensure success.
Can IT & Innovation help countries like Jordan to tackle the present day as well as the challenges of the future? IT and Innovation can help drive the productivity and growth of any nation as long as it is absorbed and employed to make improvements in line with local circumstances, ecosystems, and development priorities. IT & Innovation are key to a country like Jordan, where its main capital is its skilled workforce. We can provide the infrastructure needed to nurture a stable IT sector and we can encourage innovation through startup hubs and accelerators with mentors such as Oasis500, which takes passion, energy and dedication to transform a startup to a sustainable business. We in Jordan have many success stories such as Maktoob and Jamalon among others.
The Children’s Cinema Programme was launched in 2014, to enhance the critical thinking of children and youth, and heighten their appreciation for the arts.
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