Jordanian Archaeology as Sustainable Industry project comes into being

WADI MUSA — Sela for Training and Protection of Heritage, a non-profit company, and the Petra Development and Tourism Regional Authority (PDTRA) joined forces to launch the Jordanian Archaeology as a Sustainable Industry project (JASI).

The project’s launch took place in Wadi Musa on Monday. 

“JASI’s goal is to expand Sela’s Employment through Heritage Project, which is aimed at formalising the Cultural Resources Management (CRM) job market in Jordan and preparing Jordanians to enter the sector,” noted Sela President Maria Elena Ronzavice. 

She added that with JASI, Sela is expanding the idea and forming skilled units to implement project from conception to implementation.

“The project will be implemented in partnership with the PDTRA and is supported by the Swiss Drosos Foundation,” Ronza said.

JASI provides sustainable jobs within the heritage sector, Ronza said, adding that it increases the competitiveness of the participants.

Within JASI, Sela will train three multidisciplinary teams to implement conservation projects from start to finish and 25 per cent of the trainees will be hired to work with the PDTRA on the maintenance of the world heritage site of Petra, organisers announced. 

They added that the project will involve and benefit the whole community through training, job creation and career guidance of 130 young individuals, including high school and university students. 

“JASI can have a wide impact on the future generations by providing a new entry level to the job market and has the potential of transforming the CRM sector in Jordan into a sustainable industry,” Ronza said.

On the other hand, “the PDTRA realises the need to work with different actors in order to protect our heritage and build capacity. This project is timely and will certainly enhance the efforts the PDTRA is undertaking to strengthen the position and status of Petra as a world heritage site," highlighted PAP Commissioner Bilal Khraisat.

Suba Umathevan, CEO of Drosos Foundation, said: “Since we started our collaboration in 2018, Sela has shown that it is capable of achieving system-level change and has adopted a holistic approach to achieving our common goal: Creating equal opportunities for all, in particular for disadvantaged youth.”