Murals aimed at launching social dialogue on gender equality

AMMAN — The ideas of some 300 volunteers from around the Kingdom on gender issues discussed at recent workshops held by the USAID-Takamol Gender Programme are now the subject matter of murals spread out around Jordan.

The workshops covered several social issues related to gender, according to Takamol.

The artistic initiative seeks to create and open positive communication channels among members of the local community on issues they find important, according to USAID-Takamol Gender Programme Chief of Party Nermeen Murad. 

Mural painting, she said, is an effective and creative tool for self-expression.

The results of the workshops were eight murals in eight different areas across the country, implemented by eight international street artists and the volunteers.

Murad added in recent remarks that the initiative also aimed at honing the artistic skills and painting capabilities of young Jordanians so they can take part in painting murals in the future to express their ideas and feelings.

In Jerash, some 48km north of Amman, one mural reads: "Look ahead, not behind" and "Let hope guide your life".

Another mural painting in the Sweimeh area near the Dead Sea embodies a women looking up, disregarding social judgments and surrounded by phrases that call for sparing both men and women from preconceptions and judgments.

"When we started painting this mural it did not immediately appeal to the public, but as time passed they started looking at it in contemplation. Soon after that they started boasting about the beauty its presence added to the neighbourhood," a Takamol statement quoted Najah Abu Safi, another volunteer, as saying.

Amman resident, Ali Rawashdeh, said the mural he took part in painting in his neighbourhood to address the culture of shame has initiated social dialogue among residents.

The 24-year-old said the drawing shows a face that is half a man's and half a woman's.

"In the end we are all human," he said.

The project, which is expected to be officially launched in May, was implemented in partnership with aptART and National Paints.