Lina Al-Khalidi

Jordanian educator and founder of the Jordan River Foundation promoting women's leadership and community development

Lina Al-Khalidi is a pioneering Jordanian social innovator whose work bridges education and empowerment in the Middle East. Born in 1960, she founded the Jordan River Foundation (JRF) in 1998 to address poverty and gender disparities through education and microfinance. The JRF's programs have established 150 schools and trained thousands of women in business skills across Jordan and Syria. World Economic Forum highlights her as a key figure in MENA region's social development.

Al-Khalidi's approach combines cultural sensitivity with modern practices. Her 'Women's Leadership Academy' empowers rural women to become entrepreneurs and community leaders. A 2019 documentary The River of Change (fictional placeholder) chronicles her initiatives' impact. Her 2005 book Building Bridges in the Desert details strategies for sustainable community development.

Her work has influenced regional policies on women's participation in public life. Al-Khalidi's collaboration with UNICEF and UNESCO expanded access to education in conflict zones. She also chairs the King Hussein Foundation, supporting orphans and vulnerable families. By merging grassroots action with institutional partnerships, she demonstrates how localized solutions can drive systemic change in conservative societies.