Greening the Camps
Amman, Jordan · Operator: Greening the Camps (non-profit, registered in Belgium 2017)
Overview
A rooftop-garden project aiming to create a green oasis in dense, concrete refugee camps and reconnect refugees with their agricultural heritage. It offers a low-tech response to food insecurity and fosters community self-reliance, expanding from a prototype on the Jadal rooftop in Amman to implementation in Jerash refugee camp.
Citizen participation
Founded in 2017 by young designers trained in urban design and architecture. They built a prototype garden on the rooftop of Jadal for Knowledge and Culture in Amman and, with the Jerash-camp grassroots group One Love, constructed a community rooftop farm. After construction, Palestinian refugees themselves took the lead, running their own compost, hydroponic and produce-selling projects.
Operating model
Non-profit operation funded by crowdfunding, donations and volunteers for materials and construction; it supports refugees in earning income by selling compost and produce they grow at farmers' markets in Amman.
Impact
Opened a path for refugees to grow their own food and earn income through compost and vegetable sales. Young residents have launched and run their own hydroponic and composting projects, building skills and agency.
Land tenure
Gardens use the rooftops of refugees' homes and community facilities with the permission of owners and partner organisations.
Crops
- vegetables
- herbs
- compost
Scale
Prototype rooftop garden on the roof of Jadal for Knowledge and Culture in Amman, scaled to a community rooftop farm in Jerash refugee camp with local partner One Love
Sources(3)
This entry is compiled from the public sources, official sites and research below.
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