Parenting sessions and emotional support are helping women who have fled conflict in Syria to adapt to their new lives in Jordan.
“Can you imagine living your life within these confined 4 walls? It’s a soul-crushing feeling. You’re stuck with your thoughts and emotions day in and day out. It’s not healthy”.
Hiba* is a homebound mother who describes her daily routine as “empty.”
Emotional support
Plan International Jordan, funded by ECHO, reaches the most vulnerable homebound women and girls currently based in the Azraq refugee camp. We provide mothers with parenting sessions and psychosocial support along with girls aged 14-17. The participants also receive handcraft sessions on a weekly basis.
I have learnt how to deal with my emotions and the importance of eating healthy and exercising.
“These 5 sessions a week are our only breathing space. The staff from Plan International come to our caravans because otherwise, we would not be able to attend. As you can see, we are not exactly free to move around.”
Speaking on behalf of a handful of mothers attending a session, she choked on her words as she described the pain of their collective suffering.
“It not exactly our choice to be here,” says Hiba. “We fled wars and death. It’s not easy to stand tall and lead a positive life.
Moving forward
“Now I have learnt how to deal with my emotions and the importance of eating healthy and exercising. I was also taught the best way to attend to my children’s needs.”
Out of the 18 women and girls in attendance that day, only one had a cell phone or access to the world outside of the camp.
Plan International Jordan is committed to bridging that gap by reaching the most vulnerable women and girls and ensuring they don’t feel isolated.
* Name has been changed for protection purposes.
Related pages
