The stonemasonry capacity-building program in Mafraq, Jordan, is a British-funded conservation training program for Syrian refugees and Jordanians designed to help renew community strength and rebuild heritage skills in anticipation of the conservation work that will be needed in post-war Syria and across the region.
The program, first implemented in 2017 in partnership with the Petra National Trust in Jordan, completed its second round in November 2019. Stonemasonry students received additional training on letter carving, mortar work, and business planning.
Four of the 2019 trainees gave us some insight into their experience mastering stonemasonry from scratch. In the following profiles, they share their hopes for the future and perspective on heritage as a tool for post-conflict recovery.
“Heritage is the source of the world’s origins, it helps people to see the history and the creativity of the old cultural arts and craft.”
Khalil Ibrahim al-Shami was a seventh grade student with no experience in architecture or design when he joined the training program. He expressed his wonder and surprise at the novelty of stonemasonry work, and the few weeks it took to adapt.
“I never thought about it before,” Khalil confided when asked about the link between his training material and traditional forms found in historic Syrian architecture and art. “It changed my understanding of heritage and culture, and how they might be a way of rebuilding the destruction of our heritage in Syria.”
Via the program, Khalil visited historic sites outside of Mafraq. These visits drew his attention to the dangers of poor conservation at heritage sites, as well as the good. “Especially the maintenance parts,” he specified.
“The program provides me with skills and a new vision for conserving the culture and the architecture.” Khalil’s favorite memory from training: Making his first carved piece, and receiving a small prize at the graduation ceremony for his improvement.
Khalil hopes that, after the program, he will be able to restore and conserve traditional houses and anything related to Islamic architecture.
Mohammad Dorzi
Mohammad Dorzi was working as an electric technician before becoming a trainee in Mafraq. Beginning the training was exciting, Mohammad explained. “I was so optimistic in the first few weeks, that I would gain from the experience of stone carving and restoration.”
“When you like something that will be your hobby, you feel like you want to learn every thing about it.”
Training also brought his attention to the importance of heritage as a link to history and identity, beyond its artistic value and beauty. “Archaeology is a great thing, it’s a sign to my civilization and the heritage of our ancestors. We must maintain it.” As Mohammad went through the program, his skills and sense of pride grew.
Can heritage help people heal?
“Yes, heritage should be restored and rebuilt when destroyed by the war. It is the heritage of our ancestors and civilization, we must preserve and restore it as it was.”
The value of working alongside Syrian and Jordanian colleagues was also important to him. By learning together, he explained, a sense of knowledge sharing, familiarity, and love between parties grew. The program helped “ease tensions”.
Mohammad’s best memory of the program is the work relationship he built with his colleagues, trainers, and management - one built on mutual respect.
Saqer al-Okla
Saqer also entered the program with a complete lack of background in design and architecture.
Like Mohammad, Saqer was excited to learn. “I felt very enthusiastic at learning a new craft. I was comfortable from the beginning.”
Thinking about how to sculpt and create showed him how precious heritage is. “I began to feel the value of heritage and relics. Training showed me the way of building archaeological sites. I know their value.”
The program gave him “a new perspective,” beyond skills and a stronger sense of pride.
Heritage can help heal, Saqer explained, because it is the proof that ancestors overcome all obstacles. “It is the evidence of our culture.” It can also help by bringing tourists, he adds.
Saqer hopes to use his new skills and training to restore damaged heritage places in Syria.
Mohammad Nader al-Msawteen
Mohammad Nader al-Msawteen was working at a freelancer when he joined the training program in Mafraq.
For Mohammad, lack of experience was stressful and made the training confusing at first. After about a month, he was settled in and secure. The site visits at the beginning of the program changed his perspective on heritage. “After training, I now have good information on repairing monuments thanks to the massive efforts of trainers,” Mohammad explained, “This provides me with the hope of improving my talent.”
Mohammad is convinced that heritage can help heal people. “It is a part of the old history which we have to preserve, and it is a proudness and an achievement to restore heritage to its original status, to stay as evidence of culture.”
His best memories were sharing successes and achievements in producing artistic carved pieces. “The beauty is participating with our Jordanian brothers, the unity of the manners and the integration with each other, leading us to our aim.”
Mohammad intends to continue in the field of stonemasonry and conservation in order to reach even higher levels.
Thanks to generous support from the British Council's Cultural Protection Fund and in partnership with Petra National Trust, the Building Conservation Capacity in Jordan program’s second round successfully ended in November 2019. An identical program will be implemented in Tripoli, Lebanon, starting late 2020. The management team and some trainees from Mafraq will join the group of trainers at this new location.
WMF is spearheading other training programs around the world, including in Iraq where, at Erbil and at Babylon, it is completing various Heritage Management Training projects.
