Shams Library: Dana Al-Ruwaidi’s library in Jerusalem

Dana Al-Ruwaidi, a young Jerusalemite from Ras al-Amud in Jerusalem, is passionate about and dreams of developing her project—a library called “Shams.” Shams is a cultural library and café in Jerusalem that aims to highlight the city’s cultural scene by fostering creativity and community engagement. It was founded by the young entrepreneurs Dana and Abdel Nour, who are both from Jerusalem. Shams combines their passion and expertise to create a vibrant community space that supports local artists and entrepreneurs by hosting cultural events and engaging the community through workshops and various activities.

Dana applied for a grant from the Volunteer for Hope to help develop and equip the library with books and other essentials. After reviewing the grant application and assessing the library’s needs, the organization decided to award Dana the full grant, which enabled her to develop and equip the library as needed. As a result, Dana was able to transform Shams from a library focused solely on reading into a café and library where visitors can enjoy a cup of coffee while reading.

Shams generates income through café sales, book sales, and art sales. It hosts monthly cultural evenings featuring local and international artists, bi-weekly art workshops for children and adults, quarterly literary discussions, and book club meetings. Shams aspires to be a beacon of culture and creativity in Jerusalem, providing a welcoming and interactive atmosphere for both residents and visitors.