The U.S. Embassy in Amman will showcase at Souk Jara Gallery from June 10-30, 2011 the work of students from five “up-cycling” workshops conducted last April at UNRWA schools for girls.

The exhibit will show how the 20 participants in the workshop, in cooperation with Jordanian artist Muhammad Al Hajji, founder of the environmental Zawayed initiative, created pieces of art from waste. The Zawayed initiative encourages youth to look at common household items from a different perspective by repurposing castoff material into products and gifts.

The project partnered also with Al-Ruwwad Association (The Arab Foundation for Sustainable Development) in Jabal Al-Nadeef, who provided volunteers previously trained with the Zawayed Initiative, to conduct the workshops and work with the students on up-cycling.

This exhibition will help raise awareness on the importance of recycling and “up-cycling,” preserving the environment, and encouraging other schools and institutions to be creative in their attempts to reduce waste and protect the environment.