Ruwwadjo

What Ruwwadjo does

Ruwwad Al-Tanmeya (operating as "Ruwwad") is a Jordan-domiciled non-profit civil society organization founded in 2005 by Fadi Ghandour, founder of Aramex International, that delivers community development programs in marginalized urban and rural geographies. Its core product is a unified, multi-program model organized around four pillars: Youth Organizing (anchored by the Mousab Khorma Youth Education and Empowerment Fund, which provides university and vocational scholarships in exchange for mandatory weekly community service), Child Development (inquiry-based learning, summer/winter clubs, creative arts, school outreach), Community Support (psychosocial services, women advancement, partnerships with municipalities and civil society), and Adolescent Development (innovation incubator, resilience curricula for ages 14–17). Supporting program components include Dardashat cultural dialogue sessions, an Economic Justice / Protection projects track, community libraries, and women-led social enterprises such as Atayeb Tarablos.

Services are delivered free of charge through physical community centers in Jabal Al Natheef (Amman) and Al Tafileh in Jordan, Tripoli (Lebanon), and five villages west of Ramallah in Palestine, with Egypt operations having run from 2012 to 2023. Programmatic infrastructure relies on locally-hired staff (many scholarship alumni), partnerships with universities (Birzeit, Balamand, Beirut Arab) for discounted tuition, school outreach networks, and digital literacy tools such as Rosetta Stone and computer labs.

The revenue model is non-commercial and entirely grant- and donation-funded. Primary funding comes from annual investments by corporate board members led by Aramex (the founding corporate partner since 2005), supplemented by international development grants from GIZ, Expertise France, Danida, AFD, and the Anna Lindh Foundation. Individual donations are processed through the MEPS payment gateway, including contributions to the Mousab Khorma Scholarship Fund. Online donation processing is handled in Jordan, Palestine, and Iraq. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Ruwwadjo

Legal name

Ruwwad Al-Tanmeya (روّاد التنمية)

Website

https://ruwwad.ngo

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Ruwwad Al-Tanmeya is a Jordan-domiciled non-profit founded in 2005 that delivers community development programs — youth scholarships, child development, adolescent development, and community organizing — through physical community centers in marginalized neighborhoods of Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine, funded primarily by corporate donors led by Aramex and international development agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Development and Youth Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411), Civic and Social Organizations (813410), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

NGO/Nonprofit Education Programs & Service Delivery (EDADALAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH), Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)

Keywords

• Community development programs
• Youth education scholarships
• Child development services
• Nonprofit community organizing
• Social enterprise programs

Headquarters

HQ city

`amman

HQ country

Jordan

HQ region

Middle East

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Corporate and Private Sector Funding: Primary funding comes from annual investments by companies and entrepreneurs represented on the board of directors. Aramex has been a consistent main corporate partner since 2005. Other private sector companies contribute through the board of directors.
2. International Development Grants: Funding from international development organizations such as GIZ, Expertise France, Danida, and AFD for specific projects and programs.
3. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and organizational donations, including the Mousab Khorma Scholarship Fund established after the 2005 Amman bombings. Online donations processed through MEPS payment gateway.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ruwwad Al-Tanmeya is a non-profit community development organization that delivers four interconnected programs — Youth Organizing (educational scholarships exchanged for weekly community service), Child Development, Community Support, and Adolescent Development — to marginalized communities in Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Egypt. Programs are delivered through physical community centers, school outreach, summer/winter clubs, and grassroots campaigns, and are provided free of charge to beneficiaries. The organization's signature model is the Mousab Khorma Youth Education and Empowerment Fund (MKYEF), which pairs scholarships with required community service.

Product overview

Ruwwad is a non-profit organization operating as a unified model of community development programs, not a software platform. The organization offers four interconnected core programs: Youth Education and Empowerment Scholarship Fund (providing university and vocational scholarships in exchange for community service), Child Development Program, Community Support Program, and Adolescent Development Program. Supporting these are enrichment components including Cultural and Business Enrichment (Dardashat Sessions), Projects Track (Economic Justice and Protection), community centers, libraries, and women advancement initiatives. The programs work together through a participatory community organizing approach, with youth scholars delivering services to children and communities while receiving education support.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Youth Education and Empowerment Scholarship Fund (Mousab Khorma Youth Education and Empowerment Fund - MKYEF) Educational scholarship program providing university and vocational tuition support to disadvantaged youth in exchange for weekly community service hours. Includes partnerships with universities (Balamand, Beirut Arab, Birzeit) for discounted tuition.
• Child Development Program Program supporting children's personal, emotional and physical growth through inquiry-based learning, parental support, and school outreach activities, including summer/winter clubs, creative arts, children's literature, sports, and academic support.
• Community Support Program Collaborative community organizing initiative with components including partnerships and services, psycho-social support, and women advancement, addressing community-level issues through a participatory approach.
• Adolescent Development Program Program working with adolescents aged 14-17 through innovation incubator, parental support, and school outreach to develop problem-solving, mindfulness, emotional resilience, and critical thinking.
• Projects Track (Economic Justice and Protection) Initiatives addressing community and youth support through an Economic Justice track (neighborhood development, business support, entrepreneurship, employment) and a Protection track (community-led campaigns, culture and art, neighborhood-based initiatives).
• Cultural and Business Enrichment (Dardashat Sessions) Weekly enrichment sessions focusing on cultural exchange, leadership development, business skills, active listening, dialogue, debate, and market skills for youth scholars.
• Community Centers Physical community centers providing safe spaces for youth, children, and community members in Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Egypt to access educational programs and services.
• Community Libraries Children's libraries in community centers housing thousands of books, used for child literature, creative arts sessions, and skills training.
• Women Advancement Initiatives Educational, awareness, and income-generating projects targeting women, including literacy programs, vocational training, and income-generation initiatives such as the Atayeb Tarablos production kitchen.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2,788 youth scholars educated and 1,794 graduates since 2005
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Al Qattan Center for Educational DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Educational support institution partnering with Ruwwad Palestine to enhance support for scholarship beneficiaries.
• Tamer Center for Civic EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnership to support civic education initiatives and programs in Palestine.
• Balamand University (Lebanon)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012University partnership providing discounted tuition for Ruwwad scholarship beneficiaries in Lebanon.
• Beirut Arab University (Lebanon)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012University partnership providing discounted tuition for Ruwwad scholarship beneficiaries in Lebanon.
• Birzeit UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012University partnership supporting scholarship program and youth development in Palestine.
• Injaz (I am an entrepreneur program)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnership targeting 300 adolescents from grades 7-8 in Lebanon through the 'I am an entrepreneur' program.
• The Little EngineerminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partner for science and robotics sessions using STEM education to teach robotics and industrial mechatronics.
• Kids GeniusminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partner for science and robotics sessions for children.
• Safar InitiativemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Palestinian mobility initiative for youth. Ruwwad conducts 'Tajwal Palestine' monthly activity in partnership with Safar, enabling youth to travel to new areas, meet residents, and conduct community activities.
• MEPS (Middle East Payment Services)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2012Regional payment processor for online donations. MEPS handles encryption and secure transaction processing in Jordan, Palestine, and Iraq.
• Mujtama3i (مجتمعي)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Platform dedicated to supporting Arab community organizers. Ruwwad introduced community organizing in Jordan through this partnership in 2010.
• AhelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Social enterprise specialized in community organizing. Partnership continues after initial work with Mujtama3i for community-led campaigns.
• Anna Lindh Foundation (Swedish)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Swedish foundation partnering with Ruwwad to develop a children's library in Jordan.
• AramexcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2005Aramex is the founding corporate partner of Ruwwad. The company's CSR department and management team initiated the establishment of Ruwwad in 2005. Aramex provides ongoing financial and operational support, with regional expansion occurring through Aramex partnerships in Lebanon (2011-2015), Egypt, and Palestine. Aramex Jordan, Aramex Egypt, and Aramex West Bank continue as key partners.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Questscope: Social and educational development organization working with marginalized youth and communities in Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon. Comparable to Ruwwad's community-led, beneficiary-driven model across the Levant.
• INJAZ Al-Arab: Regional NGO network delivering youth education, entrepreneurship, and workforce-readiness programs across MENA. Highly comparable to Ruwwad's youth and adolescent development programs targeting similar age groups in marginalized communities.
• Generations For Peace: Jordan-headquartered global peace-building nonprofit using youth-led programs in conflict-affected communities. Comparable to Ruwwad's youth organizing, community-led campaigns, and inter-community conflict work in Tripoli and Palestine.
• King Hussein Foundation: Jordanian nonprofit umbrella coordinating education, leadership, and community programs. Comparable as a founder-driven, royally connected nonprofit with a portfolio of youth and education initiatives in Jordan and the region.
• Education for Employment (EFE): MENA-focused nonprofit connecting youth to employment through training and employer partnerships. Comparable to Ruwwad's youth economic empowerment, education-to-employment pathways, and university partnerships.
• Nawa for Culture and Arts: Palestinian nonprofit using arts, culture, and education for youth empowerment and community development. Comparable to Ruwwad Palestine's creative-arts, child development, and adolescent program offerings.
• Jordan River Foundation: Jordan-based nonprofit founded by Queen Rania focused on child safety, community empowerment, and economic opportunity. Directly comparable in mandate, geography, and royal/political backing to Ruwwad's Jordan operations.

Broad incumbents

• Mercy Corps: Large global humanitarian and development organization with extensive MENA programming in youth, education, and economic development. Comparable as a multi-country MENA operator, though far larger and broader in scope than Ruwwad.
• Save the Children: Global NGO with substantial MENA operations focused on child protection, education, and youth development. Comparable in mission to Ruwwad's child and youth programs, but operates at vastly greater scale and breadth.

Regional players

• Tkiyet Um Ali: Jordan-based humanitarian nonprofit addressing food security and community welfare. Adjacent to Ruwwad's community support work in marginalized Jordanian neighborhoods, though focused on food security rather than education and organizing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RuwwadJo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ruwwadngo

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ruwwadjo