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Ammon News - By Muath Freij/ Jordan Times you

AJLOUN — When Mohammad Sulaiman noticed that the young people in his village of Rasoun were not interested in their heritage, he spent thousands of dinars to teach them about their culture.

Sulaiman, better known as Abu Issam, began travelling to cities like Ramtha, Amman and Zarqa in 2004 to buy historical artefacts that reflect Jordan’s culture and heritage.

He spent more than JD7,000 collecting these items in order to turn his own home into a small museum.

“When I found out that these young people did not have a clear idea about these details, I felt that it was my duty to teach them and further strengthen their bond with their country’s heritage and culture,” the 63-year-old told The Jordan Times.

Abu Issam recalled that in some cases, people gave him items for free so that he could complete his project.

The amateur curator noted that he also took advantage of a grant from the USAID Jordan Tourism Development Project (Siyaha) to buy items he could not afford.

Because of the USAID grant, he serves meals at affordable prices and entry to the museum is free.

According to Abu Issam, around 100 visitors have come to his museum since 2010, after he received help from USAID.

The museum showcases portraits and paintings that illustrate the history of the Great Arab Revolt in addition to photos that the activities of His Majesty King Abdullah and the Hashemite family.

“I want them to know about the achievements of the Hashemite family in Jordan. I also feature photos of prominent figures in the Kingdom’s history who contributed to the country’s development,” he said.

Abu Issam also displays items such as old lanterns, which people used before the Kingdom developed its electrical infrastructure.

Visitors not only learn about the Kingdom’s history, they also get an idea about people’s lifestyle in the past.

“I display old equipment Jordanians used during the harvest season. Some farmers used to sing specific songs while harvesting. I tell these stories to my visitors,” he said.

Sulaiman noted that his family gave him their full support to make his project successful.

His 17-year-old son Ahmad also plays his part to promote the museum.

“I encourage my classmates to visit my father’s museum and learn more about their history.”