Less than a year ago, the Jerash Elementary School for Girls were suffering from serious infrastructure problems: broken windows, crumbling walls, peeling paintwork, unpaved terrain, inadequate sanitary facilities and poor lighting.

For years, teachers and students at the Jerash Elementary School for Girls were distracted by their school’s deplorable conditions, but all that changed with Her Majesty Queen Rania’s visit to the school five months ago, which spurred a reconstruction process conducted by the Madrasati Initiative.

When the Queen revisited the school on Wednesday, 4 November ‘09, to check on the completed renovation work, she witnessed noticeable changes for the better.

Maintenance work has fundamentally improved the overall atmosphere of the school, which now boasts new toilets, a safe playground, a well-equipped kitchen, painted and fixed infrastructure, and new desks.

A modernized gate and a protective wall running along the entire perimeter of the school now ensure that the students are safe and protected.

Touring the premise, Queen Rania visited individual classrooms, where the walls have been transformed from grey to lavender, and listened to sixth -grader Tamara Qardal describing how her school had improved.

Accompanied by Madrasati Director Danah Dajani and Eastern Holding CEO Dr. Majid AlSadi, Her Majesty expressed appreciation for the efforts exerted by the Madrasati team and their partners.

Queen Rania was also briefed by AlSadi on the maintenance work and educational games spearheaded by Eastern Holding, sponsor of the school.

He highlighted the company’s assistance in providing water coolers, playground facilities such as slides and swings as well as possible health insurance for both students and teachers.

Eastern Holding will also provide monthly educational activities for the children, including storytelling and puppet shows, as well as field trips, like a visit to the Jordan Airline Training and Simulation (JATS) the company organized last October.

The school falls under Phase II of Madrasati, which Queen Rania launched in April 2009. Under this phase, construction work is being finalized on 98 public schools in Jerash, Ajloun, Balqa and Madaba by harnessing the efforts of the public and private sectors, the local community and civil society entities. Eighty per cent of the work has already been completed.

More than just bricks and mortar, the Madrasati initiative seeks a new approach to education by delivering a high-quality learning environment which fosters creativity and motivation.