Queen visits Beit Khairat Souf in Jerash

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania visited Beit Khairat Souf in Jerash on Tuesday, and met with representatives and beneficiaries of Alnoor Almouben Association, a women-led organisation that runs the site.

Her Majesty was welcomed by the association’s vice president, Jalila Al Samadi, before joining members of its board of directors, who briefed her on their accomplishments and future plans, according to a statement from Her Majesty’s office.

Built in 1881 and renovated in 2016, Beit Khairat Souf is a cultural and heritage site managed by the Alnoor Almouben Association for social development, with the aim of allowing visitors to experience some of the natural and tasty pleasures of Jordan, while improving the livelihoods of local women in the area. 

The multifaceted social enterprise comprises a kitchen, restaurant, and shop, employing women from Souf, and offering them a platform for their traditional cooking and delicacies, handmade products, and food items.

During the meeting, the Queen commended the association’s board members for their diligence and hard work, attributing the restaurant’s fine reputation to their earnest efforts.

Her Majesty also toured the heritage site, took a look at its products, and met with a number of its beneficiaries.

The Queen concluded her visit to the governorate with a stop at a home-based dairy factory, run by a widowed mother and funded by Jordan’s Business Development Centre, a non-profit organisation that aims to accelerate socio-economic development across the region.  

Since its inception in 2016, Beit Khairat Souf has empowered women of all backgrounds and ages by developing their ideas into income-generating projects. 

Serving as a community hub in Jerash, the social enterprise has operated an array of social programmes in collaboration with local tourism companies, allowing tourists to enjoy local experiences including cooking workshops, hiking and cycling tours, as well as herb-harvesting activities.