April 22, 2009 | Read Time: 2 minutes
One of the big challenges facing philanthropy is making sure that what it supports actually works — and for one speaker, proof of its social change comes in the form of Jordanian apple jam.
During a speech at the Global Philanthropy Forum in Washington, Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan produced a small jar of jam and told the audience that it was a sign, albeit a small one, that efforts to improve primary education in her country were making strides.
“Now, I gather from my friend Bill Gates, that at conferences like these if you really want to get the audience buzzing, you have to bring a jar,” she said as she put the container on the podium to nervous laughter, “But don’t worry. I’m not about to unleash a swarm of hungry mosquitoes on you.” (Read how Mr. Gates used mosquitoes during a speech to call attention to his foundation’s efforts to fight malaria.)
The queen said the food spread was created by a 9-year-old Jordanian student named Layla. As part of a nutrition program started last year by the Jordanian government, with the help of corporations and charities, Layla learned that apples are a valuable source of vitamins.
She began collecting apples discarded by her friends and classmates, who prefer more sugary snack food, and with the help of her mother, turned the fruit into jam.
Layla wants to sell the jam at local markets to raise money to pay for upgrades in school cafeterias and computers.
“Layla’s lesson is that philanthropy means more than giving money,” said the queen. “Philanthropy means giving bold thinkers like her the chance to lift their communities and realize the power within themselves to change things for the better.”
The queen acknowledged that the Middle East — as well as the rest of the world — faces difficult economic problems that may hamper philanthropy and education programs.
“Jam may be sweet, but the times we face today are anything but,” she said.
Yet despite losses of wealth, she pushed foundations and philanthropists to continue finding new ways to help children like Layla.
“As the saying goes,” she said, “when the sky is darkest, that’s when we see the stars.”
