By Roba Assi (AndFarAway.net)

Want to smile? Then head over to Jabal Al-Qalaa this week where art meets happy kids. It is hard not to smile when the neighborhoods’ children (dressed in their Eid clothing) excitedly explain to you how they helped with that mural or what they like about that graffiti piece.

It is inspiring. Beautiful. Joyous.

This initiative, taking place in Jabal Al-Qalaa, is the first chapter of the Urban Reflections project. Several artists participated by editing the environment with colors and paintings. From their Facebook page: “We are a non-profit community arts residency program, here in Amman, connecting artists with communities to produce great works of art.”

For the most part, the project is composed of artistic interventions. There were some that went beyond that though, like libraries of children’s book in lockers scattered around the area.

Our tour guides were Abdullah and Zeyad (pictured above), two seventh graders who live and go to school in Jabal AlQalaa. The boys spent the two hours with us, walking us around and introducing us to the neighborhood.

Abdullah, Zeyad, and the rest of the neighborhood’s kids were the best part. Their excitement at having helped paint and at having “cool guerrillas” in the neighborhood is worth gold.