AMMAN — The Jordan Volunteers organisation, aiming to “break the walls” between east and west Amman, organised a day of activities for people with disabilities earlier this week in cooperation with Al Hajjeh Rafika Al Nahari Care Centre in Wihdat.
Over the course of five hours on Saturday, some 30 volunteers — including school students — joined the beneficiaries at the care centre as they knitted, did carpentry work, and made accessories and carpets.
“The [beneficiaries at] such events end up teaching the volunteers more than the volunteers plan to teach them; they are part of our community and we should act like it,” Jordan Volunteers Spokesperson Yasmeen Kanaan said.
Through these activities, Kanaan added, the volunteers seek to change the stereotypical images that residents of upscale west Amman neighbourhoods may have about underprivileged areas around the Kingdom.
“My experience with this event… taught me to be less materialistic and to appreciate life; these kids are… happy all the time [despite the difficulties they face]. They taught me that life is still a beautiful thing,” Omar Jamal, a 23-year-old volunteer said.
Hadeel Matouq, a member of Jordan Volunteers, said the organisation, which was founded by young Jordanians in 2009 to provide the community with volunteer programmes all year round, works to encourage youths to interact with people of various backgrounds and accept them openly.
Al Hajjeh Rafika Al Nahari Care Centre offers recreational and educational activities to people with disabilities between the ages of six and 53, its director, Youssef Ibrahim told The Jordan Times.
“We divide them into groups according to their ages, mental abilities and physical conditions,” Ibrahim added.
Kanaan said the Jordan Volunteers organisation holds these activities every weekend, adding that anyone can lend a helping hand.
“Our organisation… invites all people regardless of their age, origin, or nationality to join our weekly events and initiatives.”
