Amman, January 14 (Petra) The third phase of the Cultural Centre Project at Beit Al-Jaghbir in the city of Salt was launched on Wednesday in the presence of the President of the National Society for the Preservation of Petra and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for Cultural Heritage, Princess Dana Firas.

The launch was attended by Swiss Ambassador to Jordan Emilia Georgieva, Balqa Governor Faisal Masaeed, Chair of the Greater Salt Municipality Committee Ali Batayneh and representatives of the Green Centre.

This phase of the project focuses on preserving Jaghbir House and rehabilitating it as a model for heritage restoration capable of addressing the impacts of climate change.

The project aims to integrate conservation work into education and awareness programmes while actively involving the local community, positioning Jaghbir House as a living example of how heritage can be protected and revitalised amid climate challenges.

It seeks to enhance the site's role as a cultural centre serving the local community.

The phase will be implemented by the association and funded by the Swiss Embassy in Jordan, building on previous phases that strengthened the structure and prepared it for its new function.

The launch coincided with the signing of the project agreement between the association and the Swiss Embassy during a joint site visit.

Princess Dana Firas said: "Al-Jaghbir House represents a living model for protecting urban heritage in the face of climate change challenges through responsible restoration and reliance on local resources and knowledge.

"We believe that heritage preservation is not limited to safeguarding historic buildings but extends to engaging and empowering local communities and building their capacities."

She praised the long-standing partnership with the Swiss Embassy, noting that its continued support has enabled progress on this integrated approach, allowing the community to become an active partner in protecting heritage sites and ensuring their sustainability.

Ambassador Georgieva, in turn, said: "Jaghbir House demonstrates how cultural heritage can be preserved not only as a memory of the past but as a living space for learning, community life and resilience-building.

"Through this partnership with the National Society for the Preservation of Petra, Switzerland is proud to support an approach that combines climate-resilient conservation, youth engagement and inclusive local development.

"This project shows how the adaptive reuse of historic buildings can serve today's communities while preserving heritage for future generations in Jordan."

The project includes a range of programmes aimed at enhancing community participation, including hands-on training in restoration skills, lectures at Jordanian universities on the relationship between cultural heritage and climate change, the "Youth Leaders of Heritage and Climate" programme developed by the association, and a specialised workshop for municipal employees on climate change, cultural heritage and visitor management.

//Petra// AK

14/01/2026 19:12:52