As part of its efforts to support local communities and women business owners, Al Nahda Women Network, which functions under the umbrella of the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD), organized a visit last Saturday to Madaba Governorate in southern Jordan. The participants visited the historical and cultural places that distinguish Madaba, and the local Bazaar, to learn about the governorate’s conditions in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The participants observed the opportunities and challenges that have arisen in the governorate and learned about the required support mechanisms, and methods to direct official and community attention to them. They also visited religious and historical places and witnessed the importance of community formation and cultural and religious diversity in the city, which enabled the growth, prosperity, and stability of the city’s community. The historical role of women in the renaissance of their societies through time was highlighted by the mosaics unique to the antiquities of the city, such as a mosaic of the Queen of Madaba sitting next to the queens who ruled neighboring countries in those eras.
In this vein, the network also visited “Beit al Beiruti,” which was established over a hundred years ago. It was recently renovated and invested in as a development project run by two sisters, Sahar and Doaa Al-Barqawi, members of the Al Nahda Women Network, as part of their pioneering project “Sawah.” The project supports women who own businesses or tourism projects in various governorates of the Kingdom to attract tourism, promote traditional crafts, and activate bonds and linkages with the local community.
During the visit to “Beit al Beiruti,” the participants participated in Madaba experiences with the help of women who are local experts. The experiences involved making various crafts such as stacking colored stones to produce a mosaic masterpiece and spinning to make traditional rugs, for which the women of Bani Hamida are famous.
This visit is part of a series of visits organized by the Al Nahda Women Network to introduce and support women-led initiatives.
