The pizzeria project was established in 2017 in the spaces of Mar Yousef Parish in Amman to offer vocational training in food serviceto a group of young Iraqi asylum seekers thanks to the contribution of the Italian Bishops’ Conference, through 8×1000 funds, and Confartigianato Italia.

Mar Yousef Pizza has grown over the years thanks to support from the French Embassy in Amman and a grant from UNHCR, which supported it during the pandemic.

In addition, since 2019, with the contribution of UNICEF and the English association Friends of Holy Land, the production of Italian artisanal ice cream, JOlato,has been started with the training of 5 children in the use of highly professional machinery and production techniques.

Today Mar Yousef Pizza is the
go-to restaurant for the entire international community in Amman,
for pilgrims and tourists passing through, but also for local citizens who appreciate its quality Italian cuisine (pizza, fresh homemade pasta, ricotta cheese, pecorino cheese, and homemade ice cream), its welcoming and attentive environment and service, its beautiful atmosphere, and the social value of this project.

In totalsince 2017, more than 100 people have been trained and started working., thanks in part to collaboration with numerous Italian workers who have shared their wealth of experience with the pizzeria’s young people.

Our desire is to increasingly expand the number of beneficiaries involved and to make the restaurant progressively self-sustainable. Please, help us too!