Volunteers share ‘more than Iftar meal’ at solidarity playing event

AMMAN — During the time when most Jordanians were enjoying their Iftar meal with their families, a group of Jordanian youth on Sunday volunteered to become the family of some 50 orphan children for a few hours, offering them a free Iftar meal and theme park activities.

Organised by "Jordan Volunteers", the activity took place in one of Amman's malls, where each of the 50 volunteers was in charge of one child.

"We wanted to draw a smile on these children's faces and deepen the ties among the orphans and the volunteers, in the same way as a child-parent relationship. This also reflects the noble values of Ramadan and the spirit of giving," Malek Al Olemat, public relations manager at Jordan Volunteers told The Jordan Times.

The event started at the mall's theme park where each volunteer joined their young partner in playing various games. By sunset, the 100 participants gathered at the food court for the fast breaking meal.

"With this event, it is not one party offering help to the other, but rather everyone engaging in creating joint happiness through playing and having fun together," Olemat commented, adding "we hope to instil the values of giving and sharing among children so they can become effective members of society themselves when they grow up."

Eight-year-old Maher said he was "very happy" to go to the theme park and have company while playing.

Saeed Qaffaf, a young man in a wheelchair, was among the participating volunteers. "Usually, people volunteer to help those with special needs, but I wanted to prove that the opposite happens too and we can offer help," he told The Jordan Times, stressing "I am in a wheelchair but I can still enjoy spending time with the children. I am glad to feel that I was a helpful hand, not a burden."

For 16-year-old volunteer Aram Al Saleh, "the happiness we feel when giving something or making someone happy is priceless. I am glad and proud to be part of this group which seeks to make a change in the community no matter how small or simple what we offer might be."

The activity was entirely funded by the volunteers, who paid for the cost of food and of the theme park activities. 

Jordan Volunteers was established in 2009 by co-founder and President Motasem Masalmeh, aiming to help those in need and improve volunteering skills among young people. It also seeks to increase volunteers’ efficiency in serving the community, according to an organisers' statement.

The group organises several initiatives such as “Tardak La Gheirak”, ("Donate your food parcel to others”), “Teaching an Orphan”, “I Belong, I Volunteer”, “Their House is Our House” and “Doctors of Jordan”, which all serve various segments of society including the elderly, people with special needs, cancer patients and orphans, among others.