Irbid school students donate olive oil to underprivileged families

AMMAN — More than 500 school students have participated in an ongoing initiative to donate olive oil to underprivileged families in Irbid, its founder, teacher Yousef Telfah said Monday.

The “Kaset zeit min kul beit” initiative, which translates into “a cup of oil from each house”, started around three weeks ago in Aydoun Elementary School in Irbid, Telfah told The Jordan Times.

Aydoun, a small town in Irbid, lies some 90 km north of Amman and has a population of around 80,000.

Telfah, who is a first grade teacher at the school, said the idea for the project originated from Kafr Abboush in the Palestinian city of Tulkarm.

The reason for initiating the campaign at this time of the year is because olive oil prices tend to increase during the first months of the harvest season and some families cannot afford to buy it.  

Students and teachers have so far collected around 60 kilogrammes of oil, which will be distributed among underprivileged students who go to the same school and families living in Aydoun, according to the teacher. 

“I saw the campaign’s success in Kafr Abboush and I thought of implementing it in Irbid, where many families reside, yet, cannot afford to buy necessities like olive oil,” Telfah said.

“Several families wait for donations of oil due to its high price,” he added.

Nidal Quran, another schoolteacher, told The Jordan Times that first and second grade students were the ones to participate in the first weeks of the initiative.  

“One hand alone can’t clap, and this is a simple initiative to show that good people are everywhere and can help others in need,” Telfah said.

Social media users on Monday commended the initiative, describing it as “humane” and “compassionate”.

“People like him [Telfah] bring back the good values of teaching. I wish the idea would spread around more governorates,” Mohammad Ramadan wrote on Facebook.

“What you love for yourself, love for others… You are a source of pride and God will reward you,” Noor Altamimi wrote, addressing the teacher.

“... If we didn’t help each other, who would? Never underestimate the simple things you do,” Huda Yousef commented.

Describing it as a “great initiative”, Jalal Al Muhtaseb voiced hope that it would be implemented on a larger scale, since “oil prices are increasing and not many people can afford it.”

Another Facebook user commended the teachers’ efforts, saying that teaching is “the most important job” as it helps “reform society” and “restore positive values”.

“I hope more schools and universities follow your lead, you are candles that light our way,” Heba Dawwd Alqaysi posted on Facebook.