AMMAN (JT) - The children of the Mathbet Dar Al Iman Orphanage in Wadi Seer on Tuesday shared their hopes and aspirations for a bright and secure future with Her Majesty Queen Rania.

The newly established shelter, inaugurated yesterday by Queen Rania, offers support to orphaned children by enabling them to acquire the needed skills and education to become independent, productive and integrated citizens in their communities.

During her visit to the orphanage, Her Majesty toured the shelter’s facilities and observed the living conditions of 30 orphans aged between two and 17 housed in four adjacent apartments under the care of staff that includes five female supervisors, a principal, a male supervisor, a cook and a janitor.

The shelter also provides the children with medical support, a library, a computer lab, a prayer room, an indoor playground and a kindergarten where a group of 10 orphans sat with the Queen while they engaged in a variety of activities and games.

Six of the orphans from Dar Al Iman now attend university, thanks to a grant received from Al Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans, another of Her Majesty’s initiatives.

After touring the shelter, the Queen also visited several impoverished families in the area to check on their needs and the day-to-day difficulties they encounter.

Their homes, constructed out of plastic and scrap metal pieces, are inhabited by more than 10 family members, with most of them either unemployed or suffering from severe physical and mental illness.

Following the visit, Her Majesty instructed that the families be moved to more suitable housing.