The Qatar Red Crescent Society team at the centre in Jordan. RIGHT: Syrian women taking part in vocational courses.
DOHA: The Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) yesterday launched a psycho-social support centre for Syrian refugees, near the Zaatari camp, Jordan, in cooperation with the Jordan Red Crescent (JRC).
The centre, opened in the presence of Qatar Ambassador to Jordan Saeed Bin Zayed Al Khayareen, will help refugees adapt to new life conditions away from their homes.
A Syrian woman greeted a QRCS psycho-social team of volunteers.
“I have plenty of free time and would like to benefit from psychosocial support programmes, especially vocational courses and crafts for women,” she said.
“I’d like to see the smile on my son’s face after we return home”.
Dr Mohammed Al Maadheed, Chairman of QRCS, said: “Part of our strategy is that relief should not be limited to food, non-food items and shelters but should also include social, educational and entertaining activities that would help spread hope, eliminate anxiety and bring back smiles on kids and mothers’ faces.
“It is important to keep the youth engaged in meaningful activities to keep them optimistic about the future.
“It is our moral duty to alleviate physical and psychological suffering of those who need our support in time of crises; and we will spare no effort to do so.
“Our assessment showed an immediate need to fill this gap and the centre has come at the right time. We are pleased to see communities enjoying and benefiting from these activities.”
QRCS and JRC will follow up constantly to ensure the centre’s services are making positive changes in the transitional stage of refugees’ lives and helping them adapt, while learning new skills peacefully.
The centre next to the populated area in Zaatari, is the second to be opened by QRCS and JRC. The first was set up in Mafraq city and receives daily groups of children to comfort them with play therapy and activities. It also offers vocational courses and lectures for women to raise awareness about family issues.
It has provided a plot of land for football matches for youth. A peace championship was held to encourage sportsmanship among young Syrians and lift their morals and spirit.
In the next phase, social interviews will be conducted by 50 QRCS volunteers trained in Red Cross and Red Crescent principles and values to launch psychosocial services that meet needs of families. The Peninsula
