Rawan’s story begins in Amman, Jordan, where her parents discovered she was blind at just six months old. After years of searching for a medical solution, her family made a conscious decision: they would empower her instead. That early decision laid the foundation for Rawan’s lifelong advocacy for inclusion and accessibility.
Her childhood was marked not just by personal challenges but also remarkable experiences, such as participating in the Children’s Parliament in Jordan and studying theatre art. But the most significant turning point came during her teenage years when her mother, her strongest supporter, was diagnosed with cancer. Losing her at 17 during her final year of school was devastating, but it also solidified Rawan’s inner resolve: to turn grief into motivation, to dream big, and to help others do the same.
Growing up blind in a society not fully prepared to accommodate people with disabilities was only part of the challenge. Rawan quickly realized that children, especially those in under-resourced schools, lacked access to inclusive and creative educational tools. In particular, she saw a glaring gap in the availability of audio and Braille content in Arabic, especially for blind children, but also for all children who could benefit from alternative modes of learning.
More broadly, Jordan’s traditional educational system, particularly in government and refugee schools, emphasized rote learning over creative thinking, self-expression, and emotional development. Critical listening and communication skills were underdeveloped, and many teachers lacked the training or tools to engage students in a more holistic, interactive way.
Rawan also faced another kind of barrier: societal perception. As a blind woman, she was expected to work only within the confines of the disability community. She broke that stereotype by dreaming bigger—by launching a movement that would benefit all children, regardless of ability.
The seed of what would become “Raneen” (meaning “ringing sound” in Arabic) was planted while Rawan was still at university studying theatre arts—an unconventional choice, especially as a blind student. In fact, she may be the only blind person in Jordan (and possibly beyond) to have pursued this major. But her passion for performance, storytelling, and communication made theatre a natural path.
In 2005, during a youth development activity, participants were asked to imagine a project that could benefit their communities. While others suggested painting school walls or visiting orphans, Rawan proposed creating an audio library of dramatized stories for children. She wanted to harness her theatre background to create engaging, accessible content that could help all children, especially those who struggle with traditional learning models.
Raneen was officially registered as an NGO in 2009. It began with zero budget—only a passionate team and a big idea. That year, they received the prestigious King Abdullah II Award for Youth Innovation and Achievement, which provided more than just funding: it offered validation, mentorship, and a refined strategic vision.
Rather than merely building the largest audio library in the region, Raneen evolved into a comprehensive educational initiative focused on using dramatized audio stories to foster listening, communication, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence in children.
Rawan’s legacy lies not only in founding Raneen, but in challenging and changing the very narratives around ability, inclusion, and success. She broke stereotypes by being the first blind woman to study theatre in Jordan, to direct a play, to run for parliament, and to lead a national organization impacting thousands.
She also reshaped expectations about what a blind woman can achieve—not just for people with disabilities, but for all children in Jordan and the Arab world. By focusing on listening—both as a literal practice and as a metaphor for empathy, attentiveness, and understanding—she offers a new educational model that prioritizes human connection over test scores.
In 2017, after years of bureaucratic obstacles, Raneen finally secured official approval from Jordan’s Ministry of Education to implement its programs in public schools. This was a crucial breakthrough. Prior to this, Rawan had to partner with organizations already approved by the ministry just to gain access to schools.
This approval meant direct engagement with the education system—training teachers, evaluating classrooms, and even influencing how communication skills are valued within the curriculum. While they haven’t changed public policy explicitly, their model is now recognized by national authorities and allowed to flourish within the school system.
Raneen has expanded well beyond Amman. As of 2014, the organization had reached 100 schools and impacted over 10,000 students. Its audio stories have been aired on radio stations, distributed in 7,000 copies, and made freely available to blind children.
Raneen operates in Palestinian refugee camps, under-resourced rural schools, and community centers. In 2019, they launched audio story clubs, training university students to run interactive story-based sessions in their communities.
A major recent milestone is the launch of an e-learning platform, enabling Raneen to reach more educators across the Arab world. The platform offers training, downloadable materials, and mentorship opportunities—a critical step in scaling impact digitally and sustainably.
Raneen’s impact is both qualitative and quantitative. To date, they have produced 52 professionally dramatized audio stories using top Jordanian voice actors and composers. Their content is carefully crafted with sound effects and original music to stimulate imagination and emotional connection.
They have trained over 2,000 teachers, many of whom work in public schools, UNRWA schools, and refugee camps—places with scarce resources and little access to non-traditional educational tools. Rawan and her team have also collaborated with major organizations and ministries, proving the scalability and adaptability of their model.
One research study showed how students in low-performing classrooms improved their reading comprehension through listening-based learning. Another impact study highlighted how children’s behavior, collaboration, and relationships with peers and parents improved after participating in Raneen sessions.
Raneen has become a model of how arts-based, inclusive education can empower children in deeply transformative ways—especially in regions where such innovation is often overlooked.
Looking forward, Rawan aims to expand Raneen’s online platform, reach more teachers across borders, and further institutionalize her curriculum within national education frameworks. She envisions a future where children are not just taught to memorize, but to think, feel, and communicate.
By Bharati Chaudhari
