Queen visits Turquoise Mountain Showroom in Jabal Amman

AMMAN — Her Majesty Queen Rania visited the Turquoise Mountain showroom in Jabal Amman on Monday, where she met with a group of local artisans who have benefited from the organisation’s training and employment services. 

An international non-profit organisation launched by Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, Turquoise Mountain aims to strengthen global links to cultural heritage by developing traditional skills, providing local employment opportunities, and reviving historical cultural sites, according to a statement from Her Majesty's office. 

Queen Rania was welcomed to Turquoise Mountain’s showroom on Rainbow Street by Country Director Richard Dwerryhouse, who gave Her Majesty a tour of the facilities. 

The Queen stopped by the organisation’s design studio to observe a jewellery-making workshop before proceeding to a meeting with a group of the organisation’s artisans.

Turquoise Mountain launched its Jordanian operations in 2018, and currently employs around 70 people. It offers workshops, training courses, and supports apprenticeships for young Jordanians and Syrian refugees. The organisation also operates a heritage-led restoration project at Umm Qais.

The young artisans explained to Her Majesty how they have benefited from Turquoise Mountain’s various learning opportunities, which include jewellery-making, woodworking and design workshops. 

These programmes also facilitate cultural exchange among Jordanian and Syrian beneficiaries, thereby enriching the local crafts market.

Additionally, the organisation hosts a cultural heritage programme for children between the ages of six and 16, which educates local youth on Islamic geometric design, traditional embroidery and micro-mosaics. 

The organisation also recently cooperated with the Jordan River Foundation on a re-engagement programme for out-of-school children, preparing them to rejoin the formal education system.