The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit
(GIZ)

2020 – 2021

The first of it’s kind virtual multi-phase hackathon that aims at engaging youth in Jordan to come up with creative educational solutions that aim at supporting the educational system in Jordan.

Due to COVID-19 and social distancing measures at the time, the entire hackathon was designed and executed to take place online with over 300 participants joining in the early stages.

The hackathon was divided into different themes: Creative Thinking, Mental and Physical Well-being, Teachers aid, and Vulnurable Students Support. The final stage of the hackathon involved customized mentorship sessions that aimed at supporting the winning solutions and helping them to exceute their innovative ideas.

EU NEIGHBOURS SOUTH & The European Union in Jordan
2022 – 2023

A series of local coffee talks in different cities across Jordan to engage active Jordanian youth in conversations with EU officials about different topics such as: the environment and climate change, vocational training, research, innovation, and private sector development.

The aim was to eventually create a network of active youth who will continue to engage with relevant activities of the EU and represent their communities through available projects and activities that the delegation offers.

The Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation & NOVACT
2023 – 2024

This project revolved around desiging and executing an audiovisual contest to promote youth active role as peace – building agents, especially, women and YwD, in addition to fostering, amongst youth, active citizenship and social inclusion.

The contest targeted youth from three different cities in Jordan and encouraged them to capture “”Scenes”” that reflects diversity in their eyes. Mobile phones were the official tools to be used to ensure inclusivity and ability of all community members to participate, not just professional photographers.

By the end of the project, a small photo exhibition was organized to invite a selected group of applicants to display their work and tell the story of their inclusive captures.

The Petra Tourism Development Region Authority (PDTRA), in partnership with Souq Fann, has launched “Petra Products,” an innovative e-commerce platform dedicated to promoting authentic Jordanian handicrafts and cultural heritage to local and international audiences.

Inspired by the ancient Rose City of Petra, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Petra Products aims to empower talented artisans, craftspeople, and handicraft producers from Petra and across Jordan by connecting them with customers worldwide through a modern digital marketplace.

The platform showcases a wide range of handmade products that reflect the richness of Jordanian culture, creativity, and craftsmanship, while supporting local communities and preserving traditional artisanal skills for future generations.

Through this partnership, Souq Fann will contribute its expertise in digital marketplaces, artisan empowerment, and e-commerce operations to help expand the reach of Petra’s handcrafted products to regional and global markets.

Petra Products represents a significant step toward supporting sustainable tourism, cultural preservation, and economic empowerment for artisans and small producers in Petra and across Jordan.

For more information, visit: www.PetraProducts.jo

DROSOS FOUNDATION
2017 – 2024

Through FORSA, the Ta’alam project aimed to help marginalized young people transition into sustainable, productive employment in Jordan and five other MENA countries. This project was designed to provide unprecedented access to the skills, knowledge, and information that young people need to build their professional capacity, find a job, create their own job, and/or improve their economic and employment potential.

The below are among the services that were developed and established under this project:

Developing and launching an online personality/aptitude test

Developing and launching an online 1-to-1 career counseling support system

Developing and launching a directory of specialties

Developing and launching a directory of organizations and institutions

Developing and launching FORSA courses portal

Developing and launching paid FORSA courses module

Recruiting content providing organizations

Developing Ads and paid services revenue generating module

Launching Souq Fann (souqfann.com), a new e-commerce portal for locally-made handicrafts

Planning and executing a large scale on ground career fair that had +5000 attendees

In 2013, Diwanieh — an initiative founded by Dr. Sami Hourani — organized a public dialogue event in Amman under the title:

“The New Press and Publications Law Threatens Freedom of Expression in Jordan.”

The event created an open platform for discussing media freedoms, freedom of expression, and the impact of legislative reforms on journalism and digital media in Jordan. It brought together policymakers, journalists, legal experts, and members of the public to engage in constructive dialogue around one of the country’s most important public issues at the time.

The discussion featured several notable speakers, including:

• Director of the Publications and Publishing Department, Mr. Fayez Al-Shawabkeh
• Head of the Legal Committee in the House of Representatives, Mr. Mahmoud Al-Kharabsheh
• Member of Parliament and political writer, Mr. Jamil Al-Nimri
• Founder and Editor-in-Chief of JO24, Mr. Basel Al-Akour

Through events like this, Diwanieh played an important role in encouraging civic dialogue, promoting freedom of expression, and strengthening public participation in discussions related to democratic reform and media development in Jordan.

The event reflected the vision of Dr. Sami Hourani in creating inclusive spaces for dialogue, critical thinking, and community engagement.

In 2025, Diwanieh — an initiative founded by Dr. Sami Hourani — organized a public dialogue event in Amman under the title:

“There Are No Job Opportunities for Young People in the Presence of Artificial Intelligence.”

The event focused on discussing the growing impact of artificial intelligence on the future of employment and the challenges facing young people in an increasingly technology-driven labor market. The dialogue explored how automation, AI technologies, and digital transformation are reshaping industries, changing workforce demands, and influencing the future of careers in Jordan and globally.

The session brought together policymakers, academics, economic experts, and youth participants in an open discussion about the opportunities and risks associated with artificial intelligence, including the importance of digital skills, innovation, entrepreneurship, and adapting educational systems to meet future labor market needs.

The event featured distinguished speakers, including:

• His Excellency Dr. Maan Qatamin, Jordanian politician, economist, and academic
• Professor Dr. Ismail Al-Hanti, President of Al-Hussein Technical University

The discussion highlighted the importance of preparing young people for the future economy by investing in technology education, practical skills, creativity, and lifelong learning to ensure that youth remain active contributors in the evolving world of work.