Dana Cooperative – Sustainable Tourism in Jordan

So why am I here writing a blog?

I care about Dana, its people, and the work of the Dana Cooperative. I want to share its work with the wider community and also want to promote Jordan as the safe, welcoming, beautiful and interesting country that it is.

Where is here?

Here varies between Dana which is in the Dana Nature Reserve in the Tafilah Governorate of Jordan, and the UK

Who am I?

I am Scottish, my name is Lorraine, and I have made a long-term commitment to supporting the Dana Cooperative. I have been a volunteer for many years.

What do I do?

I am the Sustainable Development Coordinator for the Dana Cooperative. Sometimes, this feels like a very grand title for ‘anything and everything’!

I feel very privileged that the Dana Cooperative has allowed me to develop into this role. Through my work with the Cooperative, I have been accepted as an honorary member of the ICCA Consortium.  

To summarise, I would say that I support the Cooperative’s sustainable tourism projects, its international work related to land governance issues, and undertake a general enabling role to support members of the Cooperative with their international work/work in English. I coordinate international research placements (on-site in Dana and remote placements) for university students, and act as a ‘cultural bridge’ while the students are undertaking their placements. I also undertake a similar role for international volunteers, and act as general assistant to the Cooperative’s Project Manager.

When I am not In Jordan, I work remotely from my home in the UK.

How did I become involved with Dana Cooperative?

I was hiking in the Dana Nature Reserve, and my guide told me about the Cooperative and its work. By the time I had finished the full-day hike, he had persuaded me that I should come back as a volunteer. It took me a year to return because of work commitments, but return I did. I sent my C.V. to the Cooperative’s Volunteer Coordinator, had an interview over Skype and then came to Dana for a 9 week placement. I knew within a few weeks that this was something I wanted to do on a long-term basis.