Prepared by: Mai al-Toura

From the heart of Al-Shoubak, and among stones that carry the memory of the years, stands an old house that was once a witness to the lives of the ancestors, before it was transformed into a project that carries the spirit and history of the place.

Here, Mohammad Al-Rawashdeh began his journey. He did not see his grandfather Rabah's house as an old building, but rather as an opportunity to revive heritage and preserve identity. So, he decided to restore it and turn it into a tourist destination that welcomes visitors and introduces them to the beauty and history of the region.

But the road to success was not easy. With the decline in tourism that the region has been experiencing, the project has faced major challenges. Nevertheless, the determination to continue and preserve this heritage remains strong.

Mohammad described the start of his endeavor and his aspirations:

"We are currently at the site of my grandfather Rabah's Heritage House. I came to restore it. The idea started with a generous grant from the Ministry of Tourism, and, alhamdulillah, we developed the idea from there.”

“I want to bring back the old community, basically recreate it in this house, by providing the old tools that our grandparents used, so that the new generation can get to know them and see how people used to live in the old days.”

“I also want members of the local community who have a handicraft or any idea to come and contribute. The first benefit would be for the village's people, and it would become a starting seed. Maybe the entire village can return to the way it used to be, be restored, and we can all benefit from it at the governorate level, the district level, and tourism as a whole throughout the Kingdom.”

“Of course, we are currently going through the circumstances of the war, and tourism has declined significantly. So the house needs support…it needs support so we can continue the idea and the project.”

“The idea began with the house itself, and alhamdulillah, we have completed about 60% of the project. Inshallah, we hope to continue in the future, for tourism to return to what it once was, and to present Al-Shoubak, its villages, and Jordan in their best image."

Between the past and the present, Mohammad succeeded in giving his grandfather Rabah's house a new life, preserving its heritage value while transforming it into a tourist destination that reflects the identity of the place.

Despite the challenges brought about by the decline in tourism, this experience continues to demonstrate that belief in an idea and the determination to achieve it are capable of creating success.

Mohammad's story is not merely a tourism project, but a message affirming that preserving heritage can be an investment in the future and a bridge connecting generations with their history and their memory.