Jordan · Active since 2007

A Community of Many Voices, But One Tone.

Rooted in Zarqa — working across Jordan

Jordan's communities carry generations of diverse cultures, histories, and hopes. NAYA turns that diversity into collective strength — building youth leaders, strengthening social cohesion, and creating spaces for people to thrive.

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Youth Empowerment Social Cohesion Community Resilience Safe Spaces Women Empowerment Capacity Building Innovation Advocacy Creativity · Dialogue Youth Empowerment Social Cohesion Community Resilience Safe Spaces Women Empowerment Capacity Building

What We Stand For

Three cores. One mission.

Everything NAYA builds — every program, every project, every partnership — is grounded in these three commitments.

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Social Cohesion

Jordan is a country of many voices. Social cohesion is about turning that diversity into a shared foundation — building trust, shared visions, and equality across communities with different backgrounds, religions, and origins.

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Social Resilience

Resilience is not just about surviving hardship — it's the sustained capacity of communities to respond, adapt, and recover using their collective resources. NAYA builds that capacity from within, through people.

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Community Wellbeing

Wellbeing is the combination of social, economic, environmental, cultural, and political conditions that allow individuals and communities to flourish and reach their full potential — sustainably.

Main Programmes

Six ways we show up

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Youth Participation

Leadership training, civic engagement, and youth-led initiatives across Jordan.

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Women Empowerment

Safe spaces, media skills, economic empowerment, and advocacy for women and girls.

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Childcare Programme

Education, psychosocial support, and protection for children in host and refugee communities.

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Community Support

Livelihoods, mental health, restorative justice, and holistic support for vulnerable families.

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Environmental Justice

Green universities, tree planting, awareness campaigns, and advocacy for clean environments.

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Innovation for Community

Digital skills, community studio, IT training, and social entrepreneurship.

Highlighted Projects

Work that speaks for itself

Over 27 projects delivered across Jordan in partnership with local and international organisations since 2015.

2015 – Ongoing

NAYA Community Centre

The founding project — a dynamic hub in Zarqa that became the physical heartbeat of NAYA's work. A training ground for youth leaders and the launchpad for every initiative that followed. Over 4,000 young people aged 10–30 have passed through its doors.

DANIDAActionAid Arab Region

2022 – 2025

Masarouna — Our Pathway

A flagship programme on sexual and reproductive health rights — creating safe spaces, a community café, and a media studio in Zarqa. Directly reached 2,500+ individuals and established Zarqa's first SRHR-dedicated safe space.

MOFA NetherlandsOxfam GB

2024 – 2025

Youth Connect

A cutting-edge youth engagement initiative where participants design and deliver their own community change projects — from accessible infrastructure for people with disabilities to environmental campaigns and English learning initiatives.

British Council

2024 – 2027

Intersectoral Urban Violence Prevention (IUVP)

A pioneering multi-sector intervention breaking cycles of urban violence in Zarqa. Engaging government, civil society, youth, educators, and health professionals in one united, evidence-based effort.

DAPPDignity — Danish Institute

2025 – 2027

Growing Minds, Blooming Hearts

A holistic programme combining digital game-based literacy education, group psychosocial support for children, and caregiver coaching — active in Zarqa, Mafraq, and Zaatari Camp. Targeting at least 896 children and 144 caregivers.

MOFAWar Child

📋27 projects and counting

And 22+ more projects

From storytelling theatre and youth democracy academies to mental health support, juvenile justice, and IT skills — NAYA's full project portfolio spans over a decade of community-centred work across Jordan, with partners including the EU, GIZ, BPRM, French Embassy, HelpAge, and more.

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Our Assets in Zarqa

Four spaces. Countless stories.

Our physical home is Zarqa — and these four spaces are where the work becomes real. Open, welcoming, and built for the community.

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NAYA Community Centre

Where leaders are made

The original NAYA home. Multiple training rooms, dialogue halls, and workshop spaces where youth, women, and community leaders have been gathering since 2015. More than a venue — it's the engine of change in Zarqa.

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NAYA Community Studio

The first of its kind in Zarqa

A professional-grade media production space open to local creators. Zarqa's youth finally have a place to film, podcast, and tell their own stories — supported end-to-end through production. Because every voice deserves to be heard.

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NAYA Community Café

A safe space with good coffee

A welcoming café established as a deliberate safe space — not just for coffee, but for conversation, studying, collaboration, and connection. Open to anyone who needs a place to simply be themselves without judgment.

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NAYA Community Kitchen

Where sharing starts with food

Food has always been the language of community. The NAYA Kitchen is a place where people cook together, share traditions, support each other's livelihoods, and remember that across all of Jordan's many voices — there's always room at the table.

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In the field

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The People

Our team

Youth leaders, social workers, psychologists, and media creators — all rooted in Zarqa and working across Jordan.

Rafat Badran

General Manager

Leads NAYA's overall management, governance, and strategic direction across all programmes.

Ayat Shawish

Executive Director

Drives NAYA's institutional development, donor relations, and executive leadership.

Thaer AbdelRahman

Head of Programmes

Programmes architect — designing and overseeing NAYA's impact from day one.

Rama AbuAzoum

Director of Institutional Development and Strategic Planning.

Keeps the engine running — managing day-to-day operations, logistics, and organisational systems.

Hala Khlfa

Role coming soon

A valued member of the NAYA team bringing expertise and commitment to the community.

Name coming soon

Team Member