Jordan

This update was submitted by Yazan Al-Saif `07 and Qais Taraweneh `06. Yazan is currently enrolled in the eleventh grade at Pioneer Educational School in Amman and spent his YES year in Tyler, Texas. Qais is enrolled in the twelfth grade at Al-Hikmeh School in Amman; as a YES student he lived in Muncie, Indiana.

Qais and Yazan prepare for the Child Day Celebration at the CDC.

The Community Development Center (CDC) located in Sweileh was established seven years ago as social services branch of the University of Jordan. On July 24th we visited the center with a group of YES Alumni. We took donations of clothes, shoes, toys and a handful of books with us to be distributed later to the needy families who visit the Center. At the CDC we were shown a video that briefly describes what CDC is all about. The center’s main focus is women’s empowerment and education along with providing goods and services to economically disadvantaged families. Families are usually given aid in the form of food or other assistance. Family services can range from sending contractors to fix a roof or sending escorts to help the elderly get around. In addition, CDC has an English language training program that primary and secondary students can enroll in along with computer training courses and a computer lab. “CDC is looking forward to seeing people come here to help and we are looking for young Jordanians who can give us a hand," said Mrs. Ruweida Shakhshir, CDC Center Officer, as she was encouraging the group to continue to volunteer at the center.

The alumni returned a few days later to CDC volunteer with the children's day. They decorated several rooms with colorful tissue paper and balloons. The students also planned a variety of play activities with the children and taught the children some English language vocabulary. Every child who attended had his own passport so that he or she would have a souvenir from attending the activities that day. Many children experienced face painting for the first time in their lives. Twister and Musical Chairs were also played. A lot of creativity was found in the pasta decorations because the children had an opportunity to paint and glue different pasta shapes onto cardboard. The Candy Fishing was exciting and also tasty! Finally, many children enjoyed blowing bubbles in the air using water and soap. “The celebration was well-organized,” said Mrs. Shakhshir. Over one hundred child joined in the festivities,” Children had an unforgettable time while learning important moral lessons including the values of patience and sharing with others. Parents were thrilled with the idea of the festivities and came to the CDC to observe the day’s events. Time went by fast, and the children didn’t want to leave after the celebration was over. The alumni promised to return again next year. “We’re glad to help the community around us. They need us, that’s our job and it’s worth the looks on their faces after the activity,” said Qais.