Jerash, Oct. 20 (Petra) -- The Zaha Cultural Center and ARCS Arci Culture Solidali have signed a memorandum of understanding to upgrade a digital fabrication laboratory in Jerash, providing training and innovation opportunities while supporting accessible tourism and local economic development.

The agreement, which was signed by Zaha Cultural Center Executive Director Rania Subeih and ARCS Head of Mission and Project Coordinator Camilla Dogliotti, is part of the Italian-funded project "Sustainable Jerash: Enhancing Cultural Heritage for Inclusive Tourism," supported by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).

Under the agreement, ARCS will upgrade the existing digital fabrication laboratory at the Zaha Cultural Center's Jerash branch to develop skills in digital manufacturing, three-dimensional modeling and 3D printing.

The facility will provide training and practical learning opportunities for young people, women, persons with disabilities, students, entrepreneurs and other members of the local community. It will also support the development of innovative products and prototypes, including accessibility tools for visitors with visual impairments and tourism-related products that contribute to local economic development.

Subeih said digital fabrication laboratories provide spaces where community members can move from learning to practical application and transform ideas into innovations.

She noted that the center's experience operating similar laboratories at several branches has demonstrated their value in developing practical skills, encouraging innovation and creating opportunities for young people and local communities. The new partnership will help expand this experience across Jordan's governorates while adapting programs to the needs and priorities of each community, she added.

Subeih stressed that the Jerash laboratory will bring together technology, innovation, heritage and tourism, enabling participants to learn, experiment and develop products and solutions that contribute to economic and social development.

For her part, Dogliotti said the partnership formally begins a period of joint work in which the center and association will provide a space for community members to express their creativity, strengthen their design skills and produce innovative materials that enrich visitors' experiences.

She highlighted that the initiative will include developing new ways to guide tourists through Jerash's archaeological site and city, alongside solutions that make the area's cultural attractions more accessible and enjoyable for everyone, taking individual needs into account.

The Zaha Cultural Center is a national institution established under Royal initiatives. It offers more than 350 free programs in cultural, educational, technological, sports and artistic fields through 25 branches across Jordan. Its programs aim to empower children, adolescents and young people, develop their skills and promote community development, sustainability and innovation through technology.

The Sustainable Jerash project is funded by Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation through AICS and implemented by ARCS in partnership with Un Ponte Per, Monumenta Orientalia, the Italian Association for Responsible Tourism, Horizons for Green Development and the Sana for Special Individuals.

The project seeks to improve the management and preservation of Jerash's cultural heritage, enhance accessibility at the archaeological site and surrounding urban areas, and promote sustainable, inclusive tourism that creates social and economic opportunities for local communities.

//Petra// AJ