Her Majesty Queen Rania on Monday met with trainees, parents and supervisors of the Youth Career Initiative (YCI), to check on the programme.
The Jordan River Foundation, in cooperation with the International Business Leaders Forum, has implemented the initiative in the Kingdom since 2007.
Under the Global Educational Programme, hotels provide training for both high school graduates and dropouts from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Participants receive intensive training over a six-month period, which includes English classes, ICT courses, interpersonal skills workshops, and lessons in personal finance, personal health and well-being.
YCI aims to "empower young participants to make informed career choices and realise the options available to them, enabling them to improve their employability and enhance their long-term social and economic opportunities", according to its website.
Monday's meeting included a briefing about the programme, its achievements, and future plans as well as an open discussion with the trainees about their experiences with YCI and the benefits they gained, according to a statement released by Her Majesty's office.
Parents also shared with Her Majesty their reasons for supporting their children to start a career in the hospitality sector.
Her Majesty commended the programme’s ability to provide its participants with training that helps them explore new areas of employment, and the way it opens the door for them to work in the hotel industry and tourism sector.
She noted that with the assistance and involvement of the private sector the trainees receive crucial and fundamental hands-on experience.
Trainees said the programme has greatly improved their employability, and for some, has helped them better their chances for receiving further higher education, the statement said.
One graduating trainee noted that the programme’s practical training aspect has helped him tremendously to integrate into his new position at a five-star hotel.
To date, the YCI has implemented its programme in 11 countries across the world: Australia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Egypt, Ethiopia, Jordan, Mexico, Poland, Romania, Thailand and Vietnam.
Each country programme is tailored to suit the local needs of its young people — YCI is used as a tool to tackle or prevent issues such as youth unemployment, social exclusion, poverty and exploitation, according to its website.