Mini public libraries
for youth
The Problem
Jordan has over 10,000 bakalas - small, trusted stores located in nearly every neighborhood. Jordan Reads, Jordan Makes empowers women and youth by turning local bakalas into:
for youth
for home-based entrepreneurs
Makers place their crafts (soap, embroidery, accessories, snacks) on consignment shelves — no rent, no risk.
Readers can borrow books from the same bakala - creating community hubs of commerce and culture.
Shopkeepers gain foot traffic and income by hosting products and books.
For many women who face barriers to traditional employment, and for youth eager to build or learn, Jordan Reads, Jordan Makes is a practical, grassroots solution, leveraging Jordan's existing network of over 10,000 bakalas.
Rania stitches elegant embroidered coasters that add a touch of Jordanian tradition to any table.
Mais crafts sleek ceramic candle holders that blend timeless design with handmade charm.
Um Qais creates vibrant, hand-embroidered cushion covers that brighten living spaces with Jordanian heritage.
Maha layers Jordan’s desert colors into striking sand-art bottles perfect for unique décor.
SU crochets stylish, eco-friendly bags that bring a modern twist to traditional handiwork.
Zeina blends natural ingredients into soothing salt soaps for a gentle, spa-like cleanse.
Zeina handcrafts moisturizing olive-oil soaps inspired by local olive groves.
Nisrine pours fragrant, hand-made candles that fill homes with warm, inviting aromas.
Leyth is a Jordanian high school student living in Dubai, with deep ties to his home country. During frequent visits to Jordan, Leyth would stop by local bakalas, the small, trusted corner shops found in nearly every neighborhood. What started as casual visits soon turned into conversations with shopkeepers, neighbors, and community members.
Through those conversations, he discovered two things:
Leyth saw an opportunity to connect the dots.
With Jordan Reads, Jordan Makes, he’s helping turn everyday bakalas into neighborhood hubs of commerce and culture — supporting home-based makers, increasing access to books, and building community through an infrastructure that already exists.
We Love Reading is a Jordanian initiative that promotes a love of reading among children through community-based read-aloud sessions and neighborhood libraries.
Our Contribution: Jordan Reads organized a fundraiser in support of a public library in Jordan, helping expand access to books and reading opportunities for children and local communities.
The King Hussein Cancer Institute provides comprehensive cancer care to patients from Jordan and across the region.
Our Contribution: Jordan Reads donates new children’s books to pediatric cancer patients, helping bring moments of joy and comfort through reading, particularly during holidays and special occasions.
Riwaya Corner is a bookstore in Amman that promotes books, reading, and community engagement.
Our Contribution: Jordan Reads collaborates with Riwaya Corner by donating books in support of its community reading initiatives and efforts to make books more accessible to local readers.
Ruwwad works with communities to expand educational and development opportunities for children and young people.
Our Contribution: Jordan Reads donates books through Ruwwad to support access to reading materials and community-based learning initiatives in Jordan.
Our Contribution: Jordan Reads donates books through Ruwwad to help expand access to reading materials for children and communities in Lebanon.
Our Contribution: Jordan Reads donates books to support reading sessions in schools, helping encourage young people to read and engage with books.
The Iraqi Children Foundation supports vulnerable children in Iraq through education, protection, and community-based programs, including its Hope Bus initiative.
Our Contribution: Jordan Reads organized a fundraiser in support of the Foundation’s Hope Bus initiative, which transforms buses into safe learning spaces where vulnerable children can access education and support.
The Jordan Reads Bilingual Translator is an English–Arabic reading tool created to help readers understand and engage with books in both languages.
How It Works: The tool translates text as it is read aloud in either English or Arabic. QR codes linking directly to the translator are inserted into Jordan Reads books, allowing readers to access the tool instantly and translate as they read.