Dr. Rania Ismail is a theater and television actress as well as a theater director. She holds a PhD in psychological counseling and mental health, which she employs while working in the field of youth development in Jordan. She works in Amman as well as in other governates, providing courses in emotional intelligence and leadership skills. She has directed a number of youth projects sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Amman. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Beautiful Minds

This project supported orphans and foster mothers via a series of workshops to help them build life and social skills through the performing arts.  Workshops supported participants in becoming more adaptable, more self-reliant and more understanding of others.  One foster mother reported that after the workshops, the four children in her house improved their relationships and were more understanding of each other’s stressors. Four other participants reported they achieved higher grades in school because of the increased self-esteem they developed during the project. 

"Paying attention to less fortunate groups, empowering and supporting them to take their natural place and be influential, will lead to sustainable development in our Jordanian society because this group will be confident, effective and ready for any radical change." - Dr. Rania Ismail

IVLP Exchange Experience 

Dr. Ismail participated in the IVLP Project Engaging Youth through Performing Arts, organized by the U.S. Department of State and World Learning, in partnership with GlobalPittsburgh, Global Ties Akron, World Affairs Council of Dallas/Fort Worth and the U.S. Department of State Office of International Visitors program branch in New York City.

U.S. Communities Visited

Washington, DC; New York City, NY; Akron, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; Dallas, TX

Country: Jordan 

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