SOUF, Jordan -- As we stepped toward the restaurant, our guides repeatedly told us to have our cameras ready.
We were at Beit Khayrat Souf, a restaurant and social enterprise founded in 2016 that employs women in the region. Entering the restaurant, we were greeted by some of the women, who were clapping and letting loose zaghroutas, a traditional sound of joy that women in the Middle East make during moments of celebration. A trio of men serenaded us with drums and gerbeh, a Jordanian bagpipe. The upbeat energy was infectious.
Three men serenade G Adventures travelers with drums and gerbeh, a Jordanian bagpipe, at Beit Khayrat Souf in Souf, Jordan. Photo Credit: Brinley Hineman
I'm in Jordan with G Adventures for the tour operator's 35th anniversary celebration and GX Summit, a global community tourism summit. I'm part of a cohort of journalists who are traveling throughout the country, meeting some of G's partners here and locals who work in the tourism industry.
At long tables shielded from the sun, we dined on a traditional meal -- maqluba (a rice and meat dish), hummus, diwali (stuffed grape leaves) and khubz (pita) -- and learned the story of this restaurant, which was founded in 2016 by two women, Siham and Sumaya. While the food was delicious, it was the story that left a lasting impact.
The two women had few resources at first, using utensils from their own kitchens to create and serve homemade dishes. Here, visitors can partake in cooking classes, learn to make soap or jam and pick olives. The project employs 25 women and 15 men, helping combat the area's high unemployment rate.
A woman who works at Beit Khayrat Souf dances with a G Adventures traveler in Souf, Jordan. Photo Credit: Brinley Hineman
"Our goal is to empower women and youth, providing income that helps with education and eases unemployment," the women wrote in a letter on our tables explaining the history of the restaurant.
The house, too, has a fascinating story: it was built in 1881 using stones carried in by camels. A Christian family lived there, establishing the community's first church. But eventually this home was abandoned, sitting empty for years, before Siham and Sumaya added a new chapter to its story.
G Adventures travelers line up to eat at the buffet at Beit Khayrat Souf in Souf, Jordan. Photo Credit: Brinley Hineman