FDA and FGAC in Jordan

Families Development Association and Family Guidance and Awareness Center serve especially needy Iraqi and Jordanian children. These associations have stepped forward to help displaced Iraqi children in Eastern Amman, Jordan and Zarqa, Jordan. They increase educational opportunities for Iraqi children, so that they do not fall behind academically or socially and can successfully re-integrate into Iraqi schools some day. Many of these children are spending their second or third year in temporary quarters.

The Families Development Association (FDA), which is based in the poorer, eastern part of Amman, manages community centers in the areas of Jabal al-Qusour and Hashimi Shamali, which provide remedial classes and psycho-social support to the 557 primary school children at the centers. FDA is an NGO set up to empower women and enable them to participate effectively in community development. FDA is running many community programs to eliminate poverty and provide more job opportunities for women.

The Family Guidance and Awareness Center (FGAC) in Zarqa was founded in 1982 to empower women and enable them to participate effectively in community development. FGAC provides a similar range of program support to the 384 primary school children who are registered at the center. Both FGAC and FDA provide services to needy Iraqi and Jordanian children on an equal basis.

The programs provide:

• remedial education (mostly in basic math, English and Arabic)

• psychosocial activities (art, psychodrama, recreational activities)

• awareness raising sessions for 500 families of children

The results in all three centers have been encouraging. There is higher attendance, improved academic performance, overcoming of social and emotional problems, lessening of behavioral problems, etc. The main donor has welcomed proposals for a program extension and expansion in the coming year. ANERA helps by managing programs and seeking private funding to support the centers.