Al-Quwaira and Al-Daisah: Talents that Create Success and Seek a Path to Professionalism

From talent to project

Al-Qaweira presents notable examples of projects that started from simple individual capabilities and turned into an economic activity serving their owners and the local community.

Among these examples is the Al-Rakibat Al-Manajah home project, which was linked to the production of sharrak bread and carpet cleaning services, where the support it received contributed to expanding the scope of its services, in a model that reflects the ability of home projects to provide a source of income when they have support and marketing.

Ali Al-Manajah's project in the field of printing and advertising also stands out, which contributed to providing job opportunities for young people from the region, providing another example of the possibility of turning a skill into a project that serves the local market and provides opportunities for others.

These examples are among income-generating projects that benefited dozens of families in Al-Qaweira, reflecting the importance of transitioning from the idea of supporting the family to building projects capable of continuing and growing.

In the artistic field, Al-Qaweira and Al-Daiseh witnessed specialized programs to discover talents in drawing and develop their abilities.

Last April, the Aqaba Youth Directorate implemented a drawing program at the Al-Daiseh Youth Center and the Al-Qaweira Girls Youth Center, with the participation of 50 young men and women, and the training included theoretical and practical aspects, including geometric perspective, lighting, shadow, and visual expression.

The program did not stop at a passing activity, as the training resumed at the Al-Daiseh Youth Center in June, targeting 20 young men and women aged 12–17 years, within a sustainable program in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture.

In contrast, the Al-Qaweira girls continued an English language program for job seekers, combining language development with CV preparation skills, professional communication, and job interviews, linking training to labor market needs.

In Al-Daiseh, women's talents take a different path through productive projects and handicrafts.

The Al-Daiseh Women's Cooperative Association includes projects in sewing, handicrafts, ceramics, handwork, and the production kitchen, in addition to training halls.

These projects are of particular importance in an area with a tourist and heritage specificity, as local crafts and products can be part of the tourist experience in Al-Daiseh, Wadi Rum, and Aqaba, provided that the product is developed and linked to marketing and access to visitors and markets.

During a recent visit by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority Council of Commissioners to the Association, the importance of economically empowering women, developing products, marketing them, and linking them to the tourism sector was emphasized, enhancing the sustainability of these projects.

Youth centers.. From activity to talent discovery

The programs implemented in the Al-Qaweira and Al-Daiseh centers show a trend towards diversifying activities between arts, sports, training, and practical skills.

In August, the programs included camps in rescue, crisis management, drawing, and taekwondo, while the Aqaba Youth Directorate confirmed that the next phase will focus on rehabilitating infrastructure, strengthening partnerships, and expanding the base of beneficiaries.

Despite the multiplicity of initiatives and programs, creators in areas far from the provincial center face challenges that are repeated in many experiences, most notably the limited specialized tools, the need for trainers in precise fields, insufficient spaces allocated for some activities, and weak marketing opportunities and access to markets.

The success of a training course or an art workshop does not necessarily mean that the participant has reached the professional stage; the distance between training and work requires an integrated system that starts with discovering talent, then training, then production, up to marketing, financing, and linking the talent owner with the entities that can benefit from their production.

In this context, the development of computer laboratories and sports and artistic spaces, which was proposed as part of the needs of the youth centers in the region, can form part of addressing the infrastructure aspect.

The responsibility for supporting talents is not limited to youth centers alone, as municipalities can play a greater role in providing public spaces, hosting exhibitions and seasonal markets, supporting cultural and artisanal events, and connecting small business owners with tourism and economic activities in the region.

In addition to the municipality and the youth center, Al-Disa includes a number of associations and community and developmental facilities, providing a foundation upon which a local network supporting talents and projects can be built.