Refugee Children Find Hope in Jordan

A modest one-room school in the Mafraq camp near Zarqa, Jordan, stands as a powerful symbol of hope. Built through a collaboration between the Zarqa Baptist Church and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it serves Syrian refugee children who fled war with little more than the clothes on their backs.

Constructed with a donation from the Church of Jesus Christ and administered by Zarqa Baptist Church, the school addresses three vital needs: education, nutrition and health.

About 40 children, ages 3 to 14, attend the school. In the back of the classroom, younger children color and play quietly while older students receive basic instruction from the teacher. All of these children have had little to no access to formal education, and most will be the first in their families to learn to read and write.

While the classroom is humble and limited in size, it provides a safe and structured environment for learning. Andrew Majdi of Zarqa Baptist Church noted, “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.”

The school also supports the nutritional needs of the students. Daily lunches are prepared by staff at the local Baptist church. Five days a week, the children are served meals funded jointly by both faiths: simple but nourishing fare like labneh or cheese sandwiches, juice, and fresh fruit. Occasionally, the children enjoy a treat of pizza or other special meals.

“It melts my heart to see these young students who don’t have anything, not a playground or even a safe place to play,” said Wendy Housari, a senior service volunteer for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. “But they do have a school where they can get an education and a healthy meal.”

Once a month, the school transforms into a medical clinic that is available to all residents of the settlement. Early in the morning, a line of families seeking medical attention wraps around the building. Doctors provide essential care to between 120 and 140 patients at each visit, many of whom are the schoolchildren themselves. This “mobile clinic” is a lifeline for refugees with no other access to health care.

The clinic offers free medications for chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure, along with multivitamins for all ages. The clinic expenses are covered by the Church, while Zarqa Baptist Church provides the medical staff and transportation.

“The medical services provided to refugee families in the camp are incredibly important,” Andrew said. “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.”

One mother, Hamda Al-Aql, shared her deep gratitude for the small school, saying, “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.”

The needs of the refugee population are overwhelming, but hearts are being lifted through the compassionate and consistent care offered in a small schoolroom. Because the two religious organizations have a mutual desire to serve refugees and low-income families in Zarqa, they are also working together on additional projects that benefit the community.

Zarqa Baptist Church operates a permanent medical clinic next to its place of worship. The clinic is dedicated to offering free medical services to those in need, including minor surgeries. If a case is more complicated, the staff will reach out to hospitals and doctors in the region to obtain patient care at no cost or at a reduced price that is covered by the clinic. The Church of Jesus Christ assists by providing all the prescription medicines dispensed at the clinic.

“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.”

The joint compassion and care of the two faith groups are lifting many lives and giving children hope for the future. As conflicts continue and needs grow, the little school in the Mafraq camp stands as a testament to what’s possible when faith and kindness unite.