Turning hardship into hope

In the narrow hallway of a rundown apartment block in northern Jordan, Nuha greeted us softly, her eyes reflecting both warmth and weariness.

Nuha and her husband, parents of five children, live in a cramped underground apartment. They
fled Syria in 2013 seeking safety, but like thousands of refugees in Jordan, the years since have been marked by hardship.

When they first arrived, the family stayed in a camp. But the challenging conditions there quickly affected their health. One of Nuha’s daughters developed severe allergies, forcing them to leave. Life outside the camp brought new difficulties. With no support to obtain a work permit for her husband and no stable income, Nuha’s family of seven slipped into deep debt, often unable to afford rent or even the basics, such as food.

‍“Most of the time, I couldn’t afford food, and my children stayed hungry all day,” Nuha said.

Her children missed school because she couldn’t buy basic supplies. Malnutrition and stress took a toll on the entire family. Nuha suffers from a thyroid disorder; her son has a severe vitamin D deficiency that affects his bones and requires therapy and supplements; and her daughter struggles with severe lactose intolerance. Every day felt like a battle for survival.

Occasionally, her husband earned a few coins by helping neighbors with small tasks, but it was never enough. ‍

“We couldn’t afford to buy bread. We could never afford the work permit,” Nuha shared, her voice heavy from years of strain.Medair’s partner, Forearms Of Change Community Center (FOCCEC), learned about their situation and provided the family with six months of cash assistance. This support helped them to pay part of the rent, buy learning supplies, and send their children back to school. For the first time in years, Nuha could afford eggs to help her daughter compensate for a calcium deficiency. ‍

“I used part of the support to buy food for my children. Finally, my kids stopped telling me they were hungry,” Nuha said with relief.

The assistance opened other doors too. Nuha had previously received training on how to make accessories, but lacked the materials to begin. With FOCCEC’s assistance, she bought what she needed to start a small business. ‍

“After receiving support, I could finally start my business. Now, at least I can afford the cost of bread,” she said.

As part of their case plan, the family also attended psychosocial support sessions, helping them process years of stress and trauma. Today, Nuha feels stronger, and her children are back in school – healthier, happier and more hopeful.

Nuha no longer has to choose between rent and food, or between health and education.

In collaboration with Medair, and with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and private donors, FOCCEC provides cash assistance and case management in Jordan to refugees and vulnerable Jordanians.  

This content was produced with resources gathered by Medair’s field and headquarters staff. The views expressed herein are those solely of Medair and should not be taken, in any way, to reflect the official opinion of any other organisation.