Arthur Tainturier/Act for Peace/Jordan

Helping young people build better futures

Jordan

Forsa (opportunity) for Youth program

Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR)

In Jordan, Syrian and Palestinian refugees often end up living in what was only intended to be a short-term, emergency relief situation for the long-term. Refugee camps are often at capacity and resources are highly strained. Some families have lived in refugee camps for generations. Lack of employment opportunities and limited future prospects has a significant impact on youth – both refugees and local community members.

Supporting unemployed young people to build a hope-filled future

The Forsa for Youth program provides unemployed youth (Palestinian and Syrian refugees living in camps, as well as vulnerable local community members) with a holistic, sustainable pathway out of poverty.

Together, we work with our local partner, Department of Service to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), to empower young people experiencing displacement to rebuild their lives. The program provides training and support so young people can earn sustainable incomes to support themselves and their families.

Arthur Tainturier/Act for Peace/Jordan
In a refugee camp in Jordan, we work with DSPR to provide social and economic training for women like Ashia to learn cooking skills as well as advertising and sales so she can earn an income to support her family. Credit: Arthur Tainturier/Act for Peace
Karen McGrath/Act for Peace/Jordan
Refugee children playing in Jordan. Credit: Karen McGrath/Act for Peace

This youth program follows the success of the Forsa program which was implemented as a two-year graduation out-of-poverty pilot program for Palestinian and Syrian families in Jordan. Act for Peace is committed to backing local organisations and working alongside communities to shape long term solutions together.

We also work alongside DSPR to respond to the needs of refugees, host communities and vulnerable groups in Jordan.  This program partners with DSPR to provide food ration packs to the most vulnerable families, as well as emergency hygiene kits containing clothing, soap, and sanitary items to help maintain health and prevent illness and disease.

The program also addresses the psychological needs of refugees through psychosocial support and counselling services, and provides children with a safe space to learn and play through youth and children forums. 

A place to belong

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Middle East Council of Churches - Department of Service to palestinian refugees

DSPR is an arm of the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) which focuses on empowering people and giving equal opportunities to refugees through programs including economic and social justice, water, emergency relief and environmental resource management.

DSPR Jordan has worked in refugee camps since its inception in the early 1950s. It has reached out to young women through vocational training and two primary health clinics have helped thousands of refugee families to healthy lives. It has also offered loans to hundreds of university students and to scores of small business enterprises. DSPR Jordan also helps Syrian refugees hosted in Palestinian and Jordanian refugee camps and communities.

Act for Peace gratefully acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).

Khaled Alswidan/Act for Peace/Jordan

“What I most aspire to is to expand until I have a small workshop to teach girls… I want everyone to benefit as I benefited.”

~ Abia*

Jordan