Jordan

Safe Kids Jordan/Royal Health Awareness Society is a Jordanian nonprofit organization aimed at enhancing the overall well-being of the local community by raising health awareness and empowering Jordanians to embrace healthy lifestyles and behaviors. In 2009, the Royal Health Awareness Society became a member of Safe Kids Worldwide.

The Royal Health Awareness Society initiates and supports community-based health and safety interventions in partnership with public, private and civil society institutions, including Safe Kids.

Highlights

“Think First” Workshop at the Modern Systems Schools

The Royal Health Awareness Society (RHAS) held a training workshop for its project “Think First” injury prevention program at the Modern Systems Schools, where Mrs. Reem Jarrar, Think First Project Manager, trained 55 teachers on the curriculum and on how to use the media and E-content components.

“Think First” is an injury prevention project which aims to integrate injury prevention measures in the daily lives of young people in Jordan through the development of a local injury prevention curriculum reflecting the needs of the Jordanian society. The goal of the project is to help students understand why their first choice must be to “Think First” and to minimize their risks of suffering a brain or spinal cord injury over their lifetime. “Think First” is currently implemented in 68 schools, reaching more than 45,000 students, 500 teachers and 23 educational supervisors. Read more regarding the initiative on RHAS’s program page.

Junior Road Safety Club has reached over 18,500 students in Jordan

Traffic accidents are considered to be one of the main causes of death in Jordan. The 2008 Annual Traffic Report found that total deaths resulting from traffic accidents reached 740, where deaths among pedestrians contribute to 40 percent of total traffic related deaths in Jordan.

Junior Road Safety club (JRSC) aims to raise students’ awareness about basic road safety principles. Traffic Committees from each school are recruited, given a comprehensive traffic kit, and trained for promoting road safety in their schools and local communities.  JRSC also hopes to enhance the school role in providing a safe environment for children, by encouraging students to launch traffic safety activities and initiatives, on the school-level and community level. The Project utilizes interactive material including activity booklets and Multimedia presentation.

Activities cover six main topics throughout the school year; Pedestrian Safety, Crossing, Safe Play Zones, Car and Bus Safety, Bicycle Safety and Traffic Signs and Accidents. Topics are presented during morning assembly, seminars, field visits, practical activities and role plays in addition to arts.  The project was launched in 2008, targets the age group 6-14 years old and is now implemented in 21 Moe schools.