OUR IDENTITY:

SELA GUARDIANS OF CULTURAL HERITAGE

Preserving the past, engaging communities, building the future.

SELA COMMUNITY-DRIVEN HERITAGE PROTECTION

Empowering Jordanians in safeguarding their cultural heritage. Sela is a non-profit company founded in 2015 by five members of the communities living in the surroundings of the World Heritage site of Petra with the aim of actively engaging Jordanians in the protection of their cultural heritage.

PRESERVING HERITAGE EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES

At Sela, we envision a future where Jordan’s cultural heritage is not only protected but thrives through the active engagement of local communities. Our goal is to create a sustainable model where preservation and local development go hand in hand. Stewardship, Equality, Leadership, Accountability We promote integrity and respect for individuals. As we believe in gender equality and community empowerment, we promote individual responsibility and teamwork to adopt a best practice in fieldwork.

OUR MILESTONES:

2015 COMPANY REGISTRATION

Sela is the first registered private company operating in Cultural Resources Management (CRM) in Jordan.

2018 TECHNICAL TRAINING PROGRAM

Launch of the first technical training program in collaboration with the Department of Antiquities of Jordan through the Employment through Heritage Project (EHP).

2022 PARTICIPATED HERITAGE MANAGEMENT

Launch of Jordanian Archaeology as a Sustainable Industry (JASI) project aiming at engaging communities in heritage management through on-the-job training.

2023 PUBLIC-PRIVATE COLLABORATION

Launch of the first private-public collaboration in Jordan for the long-term maintenance of an archaeological site through the on-the-job training and engagement of the local communities with the Petra Maintenance Project.