The Hara Initiative is a grassroots organisation that works with marginalised communities in Amman to co-design more equitable urban futures. Registered with the Ministry of Social Development, much of its work is carried out by volunteers committed to socio-spatial justice. The ethos of the initiative is rooted in the meaning of hara (حارة), the Arabic term for a neighbourhood as a core unit of collective life. Historically, the hara embodied communal ties, mutual support, and shared responsibility among residents. In Amman, however, this way of life has been eroded by rapid urbanisation and top-down planning, especially in the city’s western districts.
Founded in 2005, Hara Initiative began when its founder left a position at the Greater Amman Municipality in response to the lack of attention to East Amman’s communities. The project was born from the conviction that care and solidarity must be restored to neighbourhood life. Early activities involved small-scale improvements within local hara(s), where residents collectively raised funds, contributed monthly support, and shared responsibility for upgrading their environment. Participation was always voluntary, and families facing hardship were supported rather than excluded, reinforcing a culture of mutual care.
Over time, the initiative has developed a participatory approach that weaves together the social, physical, and cultural dimensions of community life. By working directly with residents, Hara helps foster a sense of collective ownership and accountability. Its methods draw on the values of care and shared resources, resonating with ideas of the commons, even if not named as such. The initiative emphasises that a hara is neither purely private nor public, but a lived space built on trust, responsibility, and everyday acts of care.
Since 2005, the Hara Initiative has worked across five hara(s) in some of Amman’s most deprived districts, including Al-Yarmouk, Jabal Al-Joufeh, and Al-Nasr. Its long-term presence in these communities demonstrates how grassroots initiatives can generate sustained forms of solidarity and locally grounded forms of urban change.