East Amman community centre to bring Jordanians, Syrians together

AMMAN — A new community centre in east Amman seeks to enhance the well-being and resilience of Syrian refugees and the host community by offering a venue for shared social activities, organisers said Wednesday.

The Mahatta Tarabot Centre is a place where families of all origins are welcome to meet, socialise, make crafts, cook, play sports and even finish school homework, project director Karin Rahmberg told The Jordan Times.

“It seeks to break the isolation and ease the distress of the displaced refugee community by providing psychosocial support and counselling for individuals, families and groups,” she said, adding that the centre is community-driven.

Rahmberg noted that residents can use the facility’s kitchen to sell food and offer catering services as a source of income for their families.   

Deputising for HRH Prince Hassan at the launch of the centre, Amman Mayor Aqel Biltaji said the building, located in the capital’s Mahatta neighbourhood, has witnessed a “beautiful transformation” as it was established in the 1920s as a tobacco factory. 

“It is now a building for empowering humans,” he said, adding that Jordan has always offered safety and security to all who take refuge in it.

Biltaji highlighted the role of international aid agencies, including the Danish Refugee Council and UKAid, as well as the assistance of other EU countries, in helping Jordan bear its responsibility towards its “guests”.

The mayor added that the Greater Amman Municipality (GAM) will support the centre by officially certifying the facility’s kitchen and by using its catering services for GAM events.

Arvind Mungur, development representative at the British embassy in Jordan, highlighted the “positive and optimistic” atmosphere of the centre, which will be a fertile environment for Jordanians and Syrians to meet and work together to benefit the community.

For his part, Danish Refugee Council Country Director Maurizio Crivellaro expressed hope that support for the centre will continue, as it does not only provide humanitarian aid, but also seeks to improve the social and economic conditions of beneficiaries.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation Secretary General Ayman Al Mufleh said the Mahatta centre is the 17th project the organisation has carried out in partnership with the Danish Refugee Council since 2012.

The projects, which vary from providing proper infrastructure in residential areas to community kitchens, have witnessed an exchange of expertise and knowledge and have built the capabilities of Jordanian workers and volunteers, Mufleh said.