Standard Chartered Bank Jordan and Al-Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans take action in Ramadan

Ms. Maha Al-Saqqa, Executive Director of Al-Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans said, "This is an initiative that started with a call for action by Her Majesty Queen Rania in 2006 to all Jordanians, and we are extremely pleased to see today a private entity such as Standard Chartered Bank taking serious action to address this issue, and we are also encouraged by the fact that they are going the extra mile by inviting their customers to partner with them and join in the national fight for a decent living for orphans across the kingdom."

According to a research study conducted by Al-Aman Fund, there were over 28,000 orphans of all ages living below the poverty line in 2008. Of those, and according to the Ministry of Social Development, around 1,200 reside in care centres in the different governorates of the country, in addition to 6,500 (age 18-21) living with an immediate relative, an extended family member, or a guardian. They often face the harsh reality of a lack of skills, knowledge, networks, and the financial support necessary to succeed in building a future.

Geoffrey Buchanan, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Jordan, said:

"As an international bank operating in 70 countries with over 70,000 employees of 125 nationalities - we continue to see, first hand, the sustainable impact that education has in the communities we operate in. Having operated in over 150 years in some of the world's most dynamic markets and having a history of 84 years in Jordan, we believe that we can be the Force for Good in providing the orphans with an education and decent living conditions for the sake of the communities where we do business."

"Partnering with Al-Aman Fund for the Future of Orphans this Ramadan is a natural progression in our sustainability agenda at Standard Chartered Bank in Jordan, as we have been strong advocates of the Fund, since 2008. Having granted university scholarships to ten Al-Aman Fund students. Since then, we have worked closely with the Fund to integrate the students in our Bank. The programme includes mentoring, summer internships, engaging them in our community work and social events, and eventually providing them with an employment opportunity at the Bank, subject to graduating with very good grades," he added.

"The objective of Standard Chartered's partnership with Al-Aman Fund is to enhance the living conditions of orphans across the kingdom as well as to provide them with good education. We hope that this campaign will ensure more people can learn about Al-Aman Fund and its objectives and can take sustainable action to support with Al-Aman orphans," Buchanan said.

This campaign is part of Standard Chartered's Mena Diversity & Inclusion Sustainability strategy, through which it aims to contribute positively to the communities where it operates, focusing on youth, education, HIV and AIDS education, environmental protection, assisting the visually impaired through 'Seeing is Believing' and empowering women through 'GOAL'.

Standard Chartered Bank is the oldest bank in Jordan, having acquired the operations of Grindlays Bank in Jordan in 2000 which had previously operated as the Ottoman Bank since 1925. The Bank has eight branches, six in Amman, and one in both Irbid and Aqaba, and serves both retail and corporate customers.