Local NGO hands over the reins to refugees to lead aid projects

AMMAN — Launched five years ago as an initiative to alleviate the plight of a number of refugees in Jordan, Welfare-Together evolved earlier this year from an informal group to an official non-profit organisation.

“We grew from about 100 registered aid recipients to more than 3000,” said one founder Ayad Abbas.

When Abbas moved to Jordan in 2011 he noticed that poor people concentrated in the Hashemi Shamali neighbourhood, in east Amman, were in need of a friendly smile, an extra helping hand, and whatever modest assistance could be offered to make their lives more comfortable.

Welfare-Together focuses its work on Iraqi and Syrian refugees, but also provides aid to Yemenis, Egyptians and other members of the local community.

Zachary Sheldon, an American volunteer and researcher from the University of Chicago, learned about the group from Abbas and decided to join the team.

What set Welfare-Together apart from so many Western NGOs and organisations operating in east Amman, Sheldon observed, was the organisation’s emphasis on giving local people living in Hashemi Shamali a role in leading aid projects.

In fact, the committee of the organisation is comprised of refugees themselves, Abbas underlined.

Another unique aspect of Welfare –Together’s approach to providing aid to the residents of east Amman is its refusal to limit its efforts to one nationality or refugee population.

“Based on my own research, I think that focusing on all low-income people, regardless of nationality, is a much better approach than serving one nationality exclusively, which is an approach a lot of Western NGOs have to adopt because of their donors,” Sheldon highlighted.

The NPO provides the needy with second-hand furniture, carpets, clothes and housing material; distributes cooling fans; has a team of handymen to repair installations in the homes of refugees; organises its own sporting activities in Hashemi Shamali; and delivers medical assistance and equipment to people with disabilities.

Medical assistance is particularly important, and the organisation enjoys agreements and a mutual understanding with local hospitals and medical centres that provide for the community, according to Abbas. 

UNHCR and governmental agencies offer medical services, for example, but they remain limited, said Abbas. 

“We have done hundreds of operations, arranged tests, and handed medication and medical equipment to patients,” he added.

Funding, however, remains a major obstacle facing the organisation. 

“A big challenge that we are facing now is with donor countries that are slowly withdrawing their resources, and this may lead to [a] disaster,” Abbas admitted.

Despite these setbacks, Abbas said that Welfare-Together has maintained its ties with the Prince Alia Foundation and Iraqi Business Council in Jordan as well as support from individuals both in the Kingdom and abroad.