Neighbourhood beautification project draws together community of Al Taybeh

AMMAN — With the aim of exuding good-will and keeping the residents of Al Taybeh happy, an initiative in Saadeh neighbourhood set out to beautify its streets, houses and schools through art. 

“Al Taybeh area in southeast Amman is an underserved place, therefore I wanted to beautify the neighbourhood using different colours that are rooted in the Jordanian culture, in order to attract not just locals and residents, but people from around the world,” the founder of the community-based initiative Ahed Darawish told the Jordan Times on Wednesday.

“We are looking forward to our area becoming a model neighbourhood, and after we accomplished what the people were asking for, other areas asked us to colour and renovate their streets too,” Darawish noted.

People in Al Taybeh, the founder said, are “simple, kind and close to the heart”. They have “exceptional” hospitality and during renovation and colouring of the area, the words that the participants kept hearing were “Ahlan w Sahlan” (welcome) and they kept bringing coffee to refresh the participants.

“I placed barrels in front of each doorstep to serve as trash receptacles. Also, we refurbished the walls of schools and houses, leading the residents to take their tables outside and drink their tea while looking at the colourful walls,” Darawish added.

Senior neighbourhood residents Hassan Abdul Qader Darawish and Yaser Abu Farde distributed certificates of appreciation to the participants in the presence of Al Taybeh residents who, he noted, funded the initiative.

He said: “People from different generations took part in the initiative. There were the young artists, like Ruba Ghubbar, Sundus Shalbaya and Rand Ghubbar who drew hearts and branches that spread positive messages.”

Ruba Ghubbar, a 17-year-old artist who partook in the scheme, told The Jordan Times on Wednesday that colours have a lot to do with the psychology of people, noting that each colour affects people differently.

“This was one of the most beautiful experiences of my life, and I still remember these two months of work, the generous people I met and the goodness that I felt in portraying optimism,” Ghubbar added.