Founded in 1970, the association was named after the renowned Kurdish military leader and founder of the Ayyubid dynasty, which ruled large parts of the Middle East during the 12th century.
The association’s mission extends beyond charity work. It also aims to preserve and promote Kurdish history, culture, and language through various initiatives.
"We need to hold activities, including celebrating Newroz [the Kurdish New Year], and honor the legacy of Salah al-Din al-Ayoubi, highlighting his achievements," said Dr. Hamza Mohamed al-Kurdi, the newly appointed president of the association.
The association primarily depends on donations and so has faced financial challenges that have put constraints on their work. In 2002, it had to close its monthly magazine, Ronahi.
"For a while the organization has been running its work rather slowly or there was no work at all. But now God willing we will start all over to highlight the family and the association as a Kurdish association,” said Kurdi.
One of his main goals is to strengthen ties with Kurdish charity organizations based in the Kurdistan Region, with whom they currently have no contact. “But we are hoping to establish communications in the future and we have no problem with that," he said.
Initially registered in 1966 with Jordan’s Ministry of Social Development, the Salah al-Din al-Ayoubi Charity Association has published numerous books in both Arabic and Kurdish, shedding light on the Kurdish community's history across the Middle East, including in Jordan.
"Our motive and presence here is to push this association forward and revive the Kurdish language and teach the largest number of young people like me and those younger and older than me the Kurdish language," said Abdulhadi Yusuf al-Kurdi, a member of the organization.
The Kurdish community in Jordan is estimated to number around 80,000 people today.
Jordanian Kurds are an integral part of the country's social, political, and economic fabric, living in cities and villages across Jordan. They have become well-established within the broader Jordanian society, playing a significant role in cultural, political, and economic spheres.
In recognition of Salah al-Din al-Ayoubi Charity Association’s contributions and charitable efforts, the Ministry of Social Development in Jordan has ranked it among the top five organizations in the Hashemite Kingdom.
Mustafa Goran contributed to this article.