By Laila Azzeh

AQABA - After nearly a decade without a stable income, Nawal Suleiman said she was ready to give up hope for a “decent life”.

Suleiman’s husband, who used to work as a driver in Aqaba, struggled to land a permanent job, leaving her family living day-to-day for years.

"My husband has been unemployed for nine years now, which made it impossible for him to make ends meet financially," the mother of one told The Jordan Times.

Now a recipient of assistance from National Goodwill Campaign, Suleiman said she has a new outlook on life.

"I was afraid that I would not be able to take it much longer. I think the donation came just in time," said Suleiman, who will use assistance from the campaign to start a grocery store from her home.

Suleiman was one of 96 underprivileged families and students in Aqaba who were given a new lease on life on Thursday thanks to the National Goodwill Campaign.

HRH Princess Basma, president of the campaign's higher committee, distributed income-generating projects to 27 families as well as university scholarships and financial support to 40 students in Aqaba Governorate.

Also under the campaign, 10 charitable societies from the Qweira and Diseh areas received financial aid and medical equipment for people with disabilities.

Highlighting the importance of the partnership between the public and private sectors in alleviating the suffering of the underprivileged persons, Princess Basma reiterated the need for more coordinated efforts to help the less fortunate.

Also on Thursday, the Princess, who is president of the Jordanian National Commission for Women, visited the Women’s and Children’s Centre, which was established in 2005 by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority and the Questscope Organisation in the Shalaleh area in Aqaba.

During her visit, Princess Basma was briefed on the centre's achievements and role in enabling vulnerable women, who are often caught in a vicious cycle of poverty, to implement income-generating projects.

The National Goodwill Campaign, based on the Islamic values of solidarity and support, is implemented by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, with the continued support of Princess Basma.

Launched in 1991, the campaign has served numerous needy families and has grown over the years to become synonymous with support for the poor and the marginalised.

In cooperation with the private sector, the campaign has enabled underprivileged families to benefit from vital services by providing health and education assistance as well as income-generating projects.