The Near East Council of Churches Committee for Refugees Work DSPR – Jordan actalliance Syrian Refugees Relief Project SYR 131 March Report, 2014 Project Achievements

Introduction This report highlights the major achievements of DSPR Jordan during the month of March 2014 within the Syrian refugees relief program funded by Act Alliance SYR131 which includes various relief components for Syrian refugees whom their number had reached to (588979) refugees according to UNHCR official registration, and an undetermined number of unregistered refugees in Jordan, including many who have moved into the country's towns and cities in addition to the daily influx of around (600) Syrian refugee to Jordan. The main challenge that faced DSPR Jordan is meeting the increasing demands of those refugees with the limited financial resources that DSPR Jordan get. These demands reached to DSPR Jordan from the Syrian refugees through the daily contact with them and by letters and telephone calls from different governorates.

Immediate Response As indicated previously, the daily influx to Jordan is around (600) refugees whom they face a lot of problems in securing shelter and food. From here DSPR has respond immediately to those needs through its voluntary network from both Syrians and Jordanians and managed through this networking with also some local NGO’s in Zarqa and Kerak governorates which they witnessed an increase of the daily fleeing of Syrian refugees. DSPR Jordan managed to organize (2) campaigns to distribute (1250) relief parcels (Food, Dignity kits, and Infants parcels) in the two governorates for (500) Syrian family of about (3500) individuals. Syrian refugees expressed their deep gratitude to DSPR for their support and high level of organization for relief events and in the same time respecting their humanity and respect. “ Ms. Amal Shouman, Syrian refugee women said: your support came in time, we do not have any thing to support our children”

Relations Expand DSPR Jordan increased the level of work with its field workers and volunteers to conduct more home visits, interviews, training and awareness workshops, in addition to field studies and data collection and documentation with more focus on the new refugees in host communities. DSPR Jordan managed to cover (6) governorates (Irbid,Amman,Kerak,Aqaba, Zarqa and Madaba) networking with wild number of NGO’s, CBO’s, Women Programs Centers. DSPR Jordan managed to plan, implement a total of (30) training sessions in the fields of Health & nutrition, Psychosocial, CBO’s training sessions, Mother Support Groups, Life Skills, Civic Education, Children Forums, and Evaluation and Feedback sessions. All these events focused on women and children being the most needy and most vulnerable. “ Ala’ Akrad, Syrian refugee woman who came from Syria lately and resided in Zarqa said: we women are the most effected and we are the most needy among all refugees.”

(2761) Women and children benefited from the following activities and events: 1)Health and Nutrition Sessions This kind of events focused on a theme which is nutrition during the time of crisis, and how to train mothers on managing the basic needs of their families at minimal cost. Also the focus was about first aid, and primary care of family members. On a higher level, the sessions focused on food substitutes, food production at home level, taking on consideration the good reputation of the Syrian women on managing family issues and home economics. DSPR Jordan benefited from this abilities to recruit these women to become trainers and facilitators in the field of health & nutrition.

Psychosocial, and Mother Support Groups Sessions These events considered to be the place where Syrian refugee women can express their feelings and frustrations due to the crisis they are facing even if these expressions reached to a level where women can be emotionally interacting even cry sometimes. This events were the safe and secure place for these women with the support of educators and facilitators where they gave the space to let out what ever they feel. “ Reem Abu Jabal, one of DSPR educators said: it was difficult at the beginning to start with those women, they were terrified, but by time they were feeling safe and the number of women attending such events started to increase where the place and financial resources become insufficient to receive such numbers especially at the Mother Support Groups. “ Sou’ad Qiwan, Syrian refugee woman at Huson Camp said: I do not have any thing to do during the day, thank God I found DSPR center as a safe place to express my self, I come every day and learn something new.”

Mother Support Groups and Psychosocial Sessions dealt with many psychological issues such as: - Managing psychological shocks - Living with loosing some one dear - Managing future fears In additional to some relaxation exercises either individually or within groups making sure that women themselves are helping DSPR running such events to reinforce self confidence and positive thinking. DSPR has success stories that represent girls, women that managed to break their isolation and pains. “ Dareen Qiwan, Syrian refugee woman who participated in one of the Mother Support Groups in Zarqa Governorate said: Although such events do not create any income for us but this is what we need in the first place, such events give the confidence in my ability to go out and express what I have been through. DSPR managed to produce its first guiding manual on Mother Support Group to be in the hands of trainers.

Children Forums This kind of activities are directed to Syrian children of both gender of age (8-14) years old. It accomplished a great successes on two levels: 1- Contribute to develop childhood and empty out all negative feelings of children who have depression, aggression due what the have been through in Syria. (65%) of the children whom suffered the following negative behaviors and reflections: 1- Bed wetting. 2- Inwardness 3- Sudden emotional reactions such as shouting, crying, and Epilepsy. 4- The well to work alone. 5- Delay in Academic achievement.

On another level, these forums had achieved great success in developing the abilities of children at participation, interaction and achievements. The philosophy of this forums is based on securing clean, safe, and rich environment with tools and materials for children to join and work on one concept in each forum such as: 1- Recycling 2- Environment 3- Voluntary Work 4- Expressionist painting Mr. Arni Holms the representative regional coordinator of NCA visited one of these forums at Huson camp. The forum worked on the concept of recycling for some basic materials. Children were delighted to have Mr. Arni participating with them their activities and having photos together. “ Mr. Arni said: This is very interesting, children are very happy, such forums are very important for children to build their personalities.” This forums are greatly needed and the required trainers and facilitators are available and well trained to manage and run such forums, but this depends on the availability of fund.

CBO’s Training DSPR always in need for local partners to support its programs and activities. For this reason DSPR started training a number of CBO’s on different skills and experiences to enable these CBO’s gain the ability to interact and respond to what its communities can face of sudden circumstances or crisis. For example how can a CBO’s respond to the needs of the refugees that are residing in that community, in addition to training on different components such as crisis management, planning and managing relief campaigns.

Life and Social Skills This program targets youth of both gender and handle different important components designed and planned using interaction learning method which was appropriate for this category of youth. The program included various activities carefully selected such as Effective Communication Skills, Building Self- Esteem, Positive Thinking, Develop Resume, Team Work, Time Management, Using Computer, etc..

Partner’s Visit On Monday March 17 th, 2014, NCA representative at the Middle East, Mr. Arne Neis Holm had a field visit accompanied by DSPR Jordan Chairperson Dr. Farah Atallah to DSPR Jordan Vocational Training Center at Huson Camp in Irbid Governorate aiming to over look the activities that DSPR Jordan is conducting in providing humanitarian services to the Syrian refugees in Irbid within the funded project by Act alliance. The guest was received by the center supervisor and the Syrian-Jordanian Committee.

The guest with Syrian Mothers Mr. Arne started his visit along with our chairperson by participating in the fourth training session for the Mother Support Group titled (Our Internal Power) with participation of (30) Syrian women, and listened to the trainer Mrs. Reem Abu Jabal on the workshop objectives to support women on how to exchange knowledge, challenges that face Syrian women and help this group to strengthen its relations and look for the suitable solutions to the challenges they face. The guest listened to living stories that were provided by the participants, their sufferings through their crisis, discussion took place between the guest and the participants on several issues. At the end of the session, Mr. Arne and DR. Farah presented (30) gifts to the participants that included kitchen utilities on the occasion of Mothers Day Children’s share of the visit Our guest moved afterwards to join (40) children of both gender in their forum which included several activities on “Recycling” for the fourth time within Children Forum Program. DSPR supervisor Mrs. Naderah Al-Khateeb gave the guest a brief on the forum objectives and presented samples of children products out of wood, cans, newspapers, magazines aiming to encourage children to answer a crucial question: “How can I benefit from things before I throw it in the garbage bag?” and to train children on positive practices towards environment. The guest enjoyed listening to a poem on peace in three languages (Arabic, English, & Italian) by two girls of the forum. By the end of the activity, our guest participated in distributing gifts to (40) children. The children sent appreciation letter to the Norwegian Government for its support to Syrian people during their suffering and to the Norwegian people for their sympathy and humanitarian support to Syrian people.

Dear Partners DSPR Jordan would like to thank each one of you for your continuous support and sympathy to DSPR and the work it is doing. Your generous support helped us and inspired us during our work with the people in need in the time of crisis. Continue supporting DSPR will help us stand by our brothers and sisters who are in need. “Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed”. (Proverbs 19:17) As we witness these days the pains and sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ and his crucifixion, we seek your support to serve people who suffer also HAPPY EASTER TO ALL OF YOU DSPR JORDAN FAMILY God bless you all