My name is Hala Husein Ahmad, and I’m from Jordan. My business idea is focused on community-based urban gardening—using small, underutilized spaces in cities to grow food sustainably. My goal is to support neighborhoods in becoming more food-resilient and
climate-aware. I joined the job shadowing because I wanted to understand what sustainable food systems actually look like in practice. I wanted to see how communities manage food production on a local scale and how I could turn my idea into something real.
I first got involved through the local FoodBack workshop hosted by JYIF, which gave me an overview of sustainability and food 
entrepreneurship. That was followed by the youth seminar, where I shared ideas with other participants and learned how environmental and social issues connect in food systems. These experiences helped me shape my idea and gave me the motivation to continue into the job shadowing phase.
The job shadowing took place with a local farm initiative outside Madaba that focuses on permaculture and community involvement. The organization is committed to teaching people how to grow food in a way that restores land, saves resources, and brings people together. Throughout the program, I observed how they integrated natural systems into everything they did—using compost to regenerate soil, collecting rainwater, and designing planting zones to minimize waste. More importantly, I saw how the farm worked with local families, offering knowledge, seeds, and hands-on support.
This experience helped me see that food sustainability isn’t just about farming—it’s about building a support system around food. I also got to talk with people from different backgrounds who were growing their own food for the first time. It made me realize how many people are interested in being part of the solution if given the opportunity.
What changed most for me was how I see sustainability. It’s not just about personal habits like recycling or using less water—it’s about designing better systems that include everyone. I learned to think more long-term and to focus on building things that last. I also gained a better understanding of how food connects to dignity, independence, and shared responsibility.
I plan to develop a pilot urban gardening space in my own neighborhood, and I’m working with others to create simple growing guides in Arabic. My advice to future participants is: don’t be afraid to adjust your idea. Seeing how others live and grow food will help you build something that’s truly useful—not just interesting.
Hala
