Refugee children receive aid through faith-based partnership in Jordan

A one-room school in the Mafraq camp near Zarqa, Jordan, is providing education and health support to Syrian refugee children. The school is a joint effort between the Zarqa Baptist Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Built with funding from the Church of Jesus Christ and managed by Zarqa Baptist Church, the facility addresses educational, nutritional, and health needs for about 40 children aged 3 to 14.

The children attending have had little or no access to formal schooling before. Younger students play while older ones receive instruction in reading and writing. Andrew Majdi of Zarqa Baptist Church said, “Without this remedial education program, these children would never have the opportunity to learn to read or write, nor would they receive any form of schooling.”

In addition to classes, the school provides daily lunches prepared by local church staff. Meals are funded by both religious organizations and consist of simple but nutritious food such as sandwiches, juice, and fruit. Occasionally, special meals like pizza are served. Wendy Housari, a senior service volunteer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, stated, “It melts my heart to see these young students who don’t have anything, not a playground or even a safe place to play. But they do have a school where they can get an education and a healthy meal.”

Once each month, the classroom becomes a medical clinic open to all residents in the settlement. Doctors treat between 120 and 140 patients per visit—many are children from the school—and provide free medications for chronic illnesses such as diabetes and high blood pressure as well as multivitamins for all ages. The costs for medicines are covered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Zarqa Baptist Church supplies medical staff and transportation.

Andrew Majdi commented on the importance of these services: “The medical services provided to refugee families in the camp are incredibly important. They meet essential needs, especially since public clinics are far away and require both transportation and consultation fees. We’ve discovered many serious cases, like heart conditions and diabetes, that require urgent, costly care. Thanks to this mobile clinic, lives have been saved and many more have been improved.”

Parents also expressed appreciation for the center’s work supporting their families beyond just education. One mother named Hamda Al-Aql said: “The center has never failed us. Every month they provide all the medications we need: not just monthly prescriptions but also help with urgent needs. They supported my daughter not just in school but through major knee surgery. After years of suffering, she was able to walk again thanks to their follow-up and support.”

Zarqa Baptist Church operates a permanent medical clinic next door offering free services including minor surgeries; complicated cases are referred out with costs often covered by the clinic itself while prescription drugs come from The Church of Jesus Christ.

“We feel proud and grateful for our collaboration with Latter-day Saint Charities,” Andrew Majdi shared. “Our work together has enabled us to serve a large number of people in need.”

Both organizations continue working together on additional projects aimed at supporting refugees and low-income families in Zarqa.