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Symbols of home and hope, Jordan–for Mercy Corps

16 images Created 16 Mar 2018

Millions of people are still living far from home after fleeing the four-year war in Syria u2014 refugee life is their new reality, filled with heartbreak and challenges.%0A%0ASome fled to refugee camps, and others now live in host communities in Syria's neighboring countries. Many had to run from their houses with only the few personal items they could carry.%0A%0AThese items have become bittersweet symbols of home and hope u2014 they connect them to the life they've loved and ache to regain one day.%0A%0ATo shed light on the personal experiences in the midst of this crisis, we visited Syrians participating in our programs in Jordan and asked: What is the most important thing you brought with you%3F

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  • Millions of people are still living far from home after fleeing the four-year war in Syria — refugee life is their new reality, filled with heartbreak and challenges.<br />
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Some fled to refugee camps, and others now live in host communities in Syria's neighboring countries. Many had to run from their homes with only the few personal items they could carry.<br />
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These items have become bittersweet symbols of home and hope — they connect them to the life they've loved and ache to regain one day.<br />
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To shed light on the personal experiences in the midst of this crisis, we visited Syrians participating in our programs in Jordan and asked: What is the most important thing you brought with you? Produced with funds provide by Mercy Corps.<br />
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Sajida, 14, and her family left their home in Daraa, Syria for the safety of Jordan two and a half years ago. She and her close friends exchanged necklaces.<br />
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“At the beginning of the war we didn’t know what was going to happen, we thought we might get separated so we gave each other gifts to remember one another by.” All of the other girls have remained in Syria. This necklace is from her best friend, Batool.<br />
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Sajida participates in arts and crafts at school in this Mercy Corps extracurricular classroom in Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees, Jordan, May 2015.
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  • Abu Shadee, 52, on the right, and Um Shadee, 50, on the left, are in the the caravan where Um Shadee teaches knitting to girls in an adolescent friendly space. They fled Homs, Syria more than a year ago. They left so quickly that they brought nothing with them but the clothes on their backs.  Two of their seven children are with them now, but the other five are married and remained in Syria.  <br />
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Azraq camp for Syrian refugees, Jordan, May 2015.
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  • Muhanad, 7, and his family left Daraa, Syria two years ago for the safety of Jordan. He's holding a birthday gift from his grandfather, Muhamed. The toy reminds him of his grandfather, "who is now in heaven."<br />
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Muhanad is at his school, in one of the Mercy Corps extra curicular activity rooms where he participates in activities like drawing, painting, and games. Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees, Jordan, May 2015.<br />
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Muhanad and his family have made their way to Germany since this photo was taken.
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  • Muhammad, 18, says that the numbers on his phone are the most important thing that he brought with him from Syria. The numbers allow him to communicate with his friends and family who stayed behind.<br />
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Muhammad has severe scoliosis, but is able to attend classes thanks to Mercy Corps’ inclusive education program. He learns and participates in activities in this Mercy Corps classroom in Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees, Jordan, May 2015.
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  • Reema, 31,  and her family fled Damascus for Jordan one year ago. Reema sold all of her gold before the journey, except the gold heart necklace her mother gave her when she gave birth to her first son, Adnan.<br />
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Reema teaches knitting and sewing to girls in Mercy Corps' adolescent friendly spaces in Azraq camp for Syrian refugees, Jordan, May 2015.
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  • Hala, 14, and her family left Homs, Syria for the safety of Jordan one year and two months ago. Halaa is a participant in the Nubader No Lost Generation Project at Mercy Corps’ partner organization AJDT. She just finished the tailoring program and hopes to start a new program next session. The No Lost Generation Project aims to provide at risk Syrian and Jordanian youth with alternative education, skills, and psychosocial services to address profound stress the children have gone through.  <br />
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“These were my father’s notebook for his carpentry business. He was illiterate; he trusted only me and my older sister to keep track of the business records. He wouldn’t let anyone else touch the notebooks, not even my brother. The notebooks are the only material items we have as memories of my father. We had a lot of items with us, but the Jordanian army did not allow us to bring them in. We were crying at the border, and the army didn’t even want us to bring the notebooks into Jordan, then one of my uncles bribed the police just to let us bring the notebooks in."<br />
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Marianna, Halaa’s child protection representative: “Everyday Halaa and her mother open the two notebooks, read the notes, and cry. When Halaa came she was really devastated by everything that has happened, and she has started to get better here in the center.” Mafraq, Jordan, May 2015.
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  • Salsabeel, 30, her three children, and her husband fled Syria. After their home was destroyed, they had nothing left. Salsabeel’s children — her two girls and her son Hamza, 3, are everything she has now.<br />
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She and her daughters Bayal and Nada are standing under a community garden cover that was built to help encourage Jordanians and Syrians to socialize with oneanother. Sahal Huron, Jordan, May 2015.
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  • Muhammad, 25, is from Daraa, Syria where he taught kindergarten. His hobby was giving friends haircuts and shaves, with the equipment sitting in front of him. The barber equipment reminds him of the dear people he used to spend time with, while giving them cuts and shaves, which is something he hasn't done since the last person he gave a hair cut, his best friend, was killed in the conflict. <br />
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Since moving to the camp Muhammad has gotten married and had a baby. <br />
Muhammad is in a Mercy Corps resource room where he teaches students with disabilities. Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees, Jordan, May 2015.
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  • Basma, 15, and her family left Homs, Syria for the safety of Jordan June 12, 2014. She is wearing the watch her uncle's wife gave her for her birthday and for a parting gift, as she was leaving for safety in Lebanon.<br />
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Basma is in Mercy Corps' adolscent friendly space, Youth for Change, in Village 3. Basma particpates in computer class, knitting, and crafts at Youth for Change. The camp is comprised of six villages currently only Villages 3 and 6 are occupied. Azraq camp for Syrian refugees, Jordan, May 2015.
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  • Haneen, 20, and her husband arrived in Azraq last December from Syria. She brought with her wedding gifts from her husband and a teddy bear from her father, who stayed in Syria.<br />
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Haneen is seen here at one of Mercy Corp's adolescent spaces, where she volunteers. She also spends time volunteering in the community to build awareness about Mercy Corps' activities and programs in Azraq camp for Syrian refugees, Jordan, May 2015.
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  • Faysal, 30, and his family arrived at Azraq camp last July from Damascus. He's wearing his Shmagh (head scarf), which he holds onto dearly. His good friend who died in the Syrian conflict gave it to him.<br />
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Faysal teaches boys soccer in one of Mercy Corps' adolescent friendly spaces in Azraq camp for Syrian refugees, Jordan, May 2015.
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  • Manar, 13, and her family arrived in Jordan two years ago, from Homs, Syria. Manar, like Halaa, just finished the tailoring program through the Mercy Corps project "No Lost Generation." “I was enrolled in school when I first arrived here. They sent my brother back to Syria, so I had to leave school to help at home. I miss school. Next year I hope to return.”<br />
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She has two brothers in Syria. One of them didn’t have papers to allow him to cross the border into Jordan and the other was caught working, which is illegal for refugees. “When they were bombing in Homs, we were so afraid. These photos are from when I was little. We brought a lot of things with us, but they didn’t let us bring our things across the border.” Manar managed to bring her photos across, which remind her of her family. Mafraq, Jordan, May 2015.
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  • Ab al Kareem, 14, and his family arrived in Jordan two years ago, after fleeing the Syrian conflict. is a participant in the Nubader No Lost Generation Project at Mercy Corps’ partner organization AJDT. The No Lost Generation Project aims to provide at risk Syrian and Jordanian youth with alternative education, skills, and psychosocial services to address profound stress the children have gone through. He just finished the sports program and hopes to attend another session at the center. <br />
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He’s wearing the clothes he was wearing when he crossed the border from Syria to Jordan. He crossed the border with only the clothes on his back. “The clothes remind me of Syria, that’s why they are important to me.” Mafraq, Jordan, May 2015.
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  • Nisreen, 30, her husband and four kids, ages 6-11, fled to Jordan two years ago after her husband was injured in the war; they came to Jordan where his siblings, who could help take care of him, were already living (He is now completely healed). Nisreen is a volunteer arts and crafts instructor in the Nubader No Lost Generation Project at Mercy Corps’ partner organization AJDT. The No Lost Generation Project aims to provide at risk Syrian and Jordanian youth with alternative education, skills, and psychosocial services to address profound stress the children have gone through. One of the most important things Nisreen brought with her from Syria is her smile and her positive attitude.<br />
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Malik Betar, Mercy Corps field officer: “If you ask anyone here in the CBO about Nisreen, the first thing they will talk about is her smile and how her smile and positive energy gives you support. <br />
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“When I left Syria I thought that I would never smile again or have this positive attitude again because all of the rest of my family went to Lebanon. But when I met the Jordanians, especially my neighbors, and when I came to the center (AJDT) and I met all of the other volunteers and instructors, I felt as if I were at home and everyone was my family, and then I found my smile and spirit.” Mafraq, Jordan, May 2015.
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  • Judge Khalid, 48, and his family arrived in Jordan almost three years ago from Homs, Syria. Judge Khalid is a community leader in Mercy Corps’ conflict resolution program for Syrian refugees and Jordanians in Mafraq, Jordan. The program helps build a peaceful community between the two groups.<br />
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Khalid and his family fled bombings so quickly, they had no time to bring any material things with them. The most important thing Khalid brought with him is his family. Mafraq, Jordan, May 2015.
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  • Alaa, 18, and his family have been living in Zaatari for almost three years, since the camp first opened, after fleeing Daraa. Alaa is holding prayer beads, a gift from his best friend before he left Syria.<br />
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Alaa is sitting in a Mercy Corps resource room where he receives one-on-one instruction as a participant in Mercy Corps' inclusive education project for students with disabilities. He has cerebral palsy and was not enrolled in school until Mercy Corps met him and showed him that attending school can be a good thing. Zaatari camp for Syrian refugees, Jordan, May 2015.
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Sumaya Agha

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