A Safe Place for Children

A Safe Place for Children
By Margaret Aguirre

Photo by: Margaret Aguirre

Two young boys rehearse a performance that focuses on the rights of children from abuse and neglect.

The hallways of the Queen Rania Family & Child Center in Amman, Jordan echo with the sounds of children laughing, singing, reciting lines for an upcoming performance. To see these kids playing, jumping around with such joy and enthusiasm, it’s hard to imagine the pain some of them routinely experience. But Rasha Al Jazy and Adeeba Hikmat, child trainers at the center, can attest to the troubled lives the children lead.

“They talk about getting beaten at home or bullied at school,” says Rasha. “They don’t have anywhere else to go sometimes, so they find the center as a relief for what’s happening in their lives. We have counselors for them, and the help line. And we inform the children of their rights and responsibilities so they are more able to stop the kind of abuse they might get.”

International Medical Corps is partnering with the Jordan River Foundation to support the Queen Rania Center in addressing the myriad problems that can confront children and families at risk.

Photo by: Margaret Aguirre

A trainer at the Queen Rania Family & Child Center works with at-risk boys

IMC’s Early Childhood Training Program focuses on areas such as: developmental needs of children from birth to eight years; healthy pregnancy and safe delivery; attachment and family bonding; proper play and communications; stimulating child creativity; and independence, participation and self-esteem.

“Through music and plays and drama workshops, I teach kids about themselves, how to express themselves and get comfortable with their bodies,” says Adeeba. ”We talk about the people they can really trust, talk to, share with, give real love and be close to. We teach them what is safe. We teach them that love is a gift. Everyone has a power inside.”

For many children, Adeeba and the other trainers at the school are the only adults they feel they can trust. “One boy came to me and said another boy was hurting him in the bathroom of school. He said, `I cannot talk to my father, he will hate me. He will listen to me but he will hate me.’ I told him it could happen to anyone. I said we are here to help you. We’re not giving children miracles, nobody has miracles, but we’re giving them skills. We teach them how to protect themselves, for example, how to avoid dangerous situations.”

Photo by: Margaret Aguirre

A young girl sits with her mother during computer training courses.

In addition to addressing issues of abuse and neglect, the center provides training opportunities for students and parents, as well as professionals working with children.

Inside the center’s computer room, a group of mothers – some with children on their laps – learn how to operate the computers so they can better communicate and share with their children, as well as help with homework.

“One of our new initiatives is to try to promote child-parent interaction and give (parents) an added edge in terms of employment, as well as issues of

Photo by: Margaret Aguirre

IMC’s Country Director in Jordan, Adam Sirois, meets with a trainer at the Queen Rania Family & Child Center

self-esteem, development and learning new skills,” says the center’s technical supervisor, Sirsa Qursha.

Recognizing the fundamental role of family in Arab society as the key caregiver, the Early Childhood Training Program seeks to build on International Medical Corps’ core mission of self-reliance, engaging at-risk children and parents in a healthy environment where they can all learn, share and better communicate.