Initiative opens library in remote, underprivileged southern area

AMMAN — A public library was recently opened by the Masar Al Khair initiative in the remote, underprivileged area of Jarf Al Daraweesh, 29 kilometres from Tafileh.

The initiative, led by Al Rai photojournalist Mohammed Garalleh, was established after photos of schoolchildren wearing hand-me-down shoes during the 2016 winter season circulated on social media, triggering many citizens’ sympathy.

The initiative has since provided over 14 remote areas around the Kingdom with financial, medical and in-kind support, in addition to implementing small projects aimed at fighting poverty and unemployment. 

According to Garalleh, the initiative — which focuses on helping residents of unfortunate and remote areas — is now looking into expanding its outreach to include entertainment and intellectual enhancement.

“The citizens of Jarf Al Daraweesh said that it was ‘a dream come true’ seeing the area with a library they can use to better educate themselves,” Garalleh told The Jordan Times.

Jarf Al Daraweesh, with its 4,500 inhabitants, will be the first out of 17 other areas that the initiative is planning to provide with similar libraries.

These libraries will have what Mohammed Wahsh, chairman of the Jordanian Publishers Association’s Cultural Committee called “carefully selected literature in the fields of culture and education”, which he hoped would “help the villagers learn new skills needed in their lives”.

The Jarf Al Daraweesh Library was opened by Dheeb movie star Hasan Howaitat, in the presence of the village’s residents and other concerned parties, including Tafileh Cultural Director Salem Fakeer, who provided the newly-opened library with 300 books.