Aramex is placing its leadership skills and experience in the hands of developing communities, with the aim of empowering these communities and enhancing the capabilities of young people to positively impact the process of sustainable development.

To this end, and with the participation of other socially responsible organizations in Jordan, Aramex has founded Ruwwad, the first privately funded non-profit organization in the country, which began its activities in 2005. Ruwwad runs a series of programs such as scholarships and rehabilitation programs in marginalized communities and aims to expand the successful formula throughout the region, with the goal to positively affect the lives of one million people in marginalized and under-privileged societies.

Jabal Nathif is a community in East Amman incorporating a refugee camp that is not officially recognized as a camp and therefore remains under-developed and badly constructed. The entire area suffers from high population density, crowded living conditions and lack of certain public services. The area suffers from 50% higher unemployment rate than the national average, and 50% fewer higher education graduates.

When Ruwwad first came to Jabal al-Nathif, they spent the first year gathering information about the neighborhood and determining priorities by listening to residents. The residents prioritized projects according to their needs, which range from creating a children’s library to cooperating with the government to open the area’s first post office, police station, and public health clinic. Ruwwad brings together volunteers by providing university and college scholarships to 250 students from the community, and in return the students volunteer by working with children at Ruwwad’s library and creative arts workshop; refurbishing furniture for area residents, upgrading and repairing substandard dwellings, as well as volunteering at events and activities across the country and abroad.

For more information visit Ruwwad’s official Web site: www.ruwwad.net