Amman - Today, SOS Children's Villages Jordan launched the Family Strengthening Project, aiming to enhance the living conditions of families in the eastern region of Amman. The project's objective is to empower these families to be capable of caring for their children and avoiding abandonment. The project was launched in collaboration with Social Development Directorate/ Marka, the National Aid Fund, and local community associations, with the opening ceremony held at the East Amman Charitable Association.
The opening event included a presentation about the project and its goals, followed by SOS Children's Villages Jordan signing partnership agreements with five local associations from various locations in eastern Amman. These associations include Awa'il Al-Khair Association, East Amman Charitable Association- south of Marka district, Nasma Al-Amal Association- Nazal neighborhood, Nawafid Al-Ata' Charitable Association- Tabarbour, and Al-Yateem Al-Mubdai' Association- north of Marka district. As a result of these agreements, SOS Children's Villages will coordinate and collaborate with these associations to provide support to 130 families at risk of disintegration and separation over a span of three years.
On the occasion of the project launch, Mrs. Rana AlZoubi, National Director of SOS Children's Villages, highlighted that this project stands as one of the Association's priorities for the upcoming three years. Statistics indicate that 70% of children in care institutions in Jordan are victims of family separation. These figures underscore the importance of unified efforts to mitigate the problem of children's separation from their families. The focus should be on addressing the root causes of family separation rather than attempting to solve the issue after it occurs.
She explained that the project's goal is to empower families to provide proper care for their children through several interventions, including educational support services, parental care, economic empowerment, psychological health support, and socio-psychological assistance to families. This approach aims to reduce the risks of family separation and ensure a dignified living for families.
The National Aid Fund will play a role in ensuring that services reach eligible beneficiaries by gathering information about the beneficiaries of the Family Strengthening Project. Furthermore, the project will work on enhancing the capacities of local associations and their personnel, along with community members, to achieve the project's objectives and meet the needs of families at risk of separation.
It's worth mentioning that SOS Children's Villages Jordan provides alternative care for children who lost parental care, as well as support for young men and women up to the age of 24 to help them achieve independence. The care model in SOS Children's Villages is characterized by comprehensive care through housing, food security, education, healthcare, psychological support, empowerment, economic security, protection, and social integration within a warm family environment. The association operates in alignment with the guiding principles of alternative care for children and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, reflecting the goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development agenda.
