Aramex holds sports and cultural exchange programme for Jeddah United

The 10-member team, mostly comprising Saudi students, businesswomen, employees and housewives, was invited by Aramex to participate in a four-day training programme in Amman, including friendly matches with the Al Riyadi-Aramex and Shabab Urdun clubs of Jordan.

The exchange programme served as a platform to hone the skill-sets of these budding athletes, giving them the opportunity to train with seasoned basketball teams. They were also hosted on a cultural tour of the historic locations and tourist attractions of Jordan.

The highlight of JU's stay in Amman was their visit to the Jordanian Basketball Federation to meet the Womens' Basketball Committee Chairperson Taroub Khoury and National Coach Sirsa Naghaway. Khoury shared her career highlights and initial struggles as a professional athlete until she reached the highest female position in the federation.

"Meeting and playing with professional teams that compete throughout the year was priceless," said Maaly Alabdali, Operations Manager of the JU team. "The interaction was very valuable and has inspired us to excel through teamwork and dedication."

Lina Almaeena, Jeddah United captain, said, "We are grateful to Aramex for providing us with an enriching experience, giving us an insight into both the sporting and cultural heritage of Jordan. This will always be a memorable trip for the entire team."

The programme also included a visit to the Jabal Natheef area to learn about the social sustainability activities that Aramex is carrying out through its Al Ruwaad programme. The Chief Sustainability and Compliance Officer of Aramex, Raji Hattar, presented highlights of the company's grassroots efforts to eradicate poverty, crime and illiteracy. During the trip, the JU team gained a deep cultural understanding of Jordan through their visits to the city of Jerash, Petra, Alh Alkahf and other historic and religious sites in the country.

Hattar, who also led the JU team's exchange programme, said, "Engaging in sports, cultural and social development activities is crucial to shaping all-round life skills. This is the premise of the social investment projects for which Aramex is recognized. We are glad that the talented JU team had such a positive experience in Jordan. We hope it has encouraged them to be not only better athletes, but also more socially responsible citizens."