Leaving behind the distant memory of what used to be his life in Baghdad, thirteen-year old Fahed and his family crossed the inhospitable desert in 2009 and arrived in Jordan. Devastated by haunting memories of war, death and loss... but relieved to have finally found refuge. 

The war is over, but it has forced an exodus of four million Iraqis in just a few years, the majority of whom found refuge in neighboring countries such as Jordan. Many left their homes fleeing the escalating persecution and violence, and have been living temporarily in host countries that generously opened their borders, hospitals, neighborhoods and schools. Jordan has extended its hospitality since the beginning of the war, taking in an estimated 700,000* refugees.

Today, many refugees remain in limbo. Most Iraqis have not been granted refugee status, which would have given them citizen rights in the hosting country. Returning to Iraq is still not an option: with persistent instability, secular violence and a crumbling economy, it’s too dangerous to go back. The alternative solution could be resettlement to third countries, but with few places, and overwhelming needs, it remains an exception not the norm. So in the mean-time, they wait.

Fahed and his family have been waiting in Jordan for repatriation for the past three years. Like most Iraqi refugees in Jordan, they cannot work legally, and have been surviving on their meager savings in addition to immediate assistance offered to them by UNHCR and other organizations. As the days in waiting pass, savings are depleted, stipends are overstretched, and the hope for a better future weakens.

Children pay a particularly heavy price in this situation: with one third of Iraqis in Jordan living below poverty line, children attending school are dropping out to help support their families by working illegally, thus susceptible to exploitation. Others do not attend school simply because they do not have their official papers.

Fahed had been out of school for three years when he was introduced to Questscope’s  Non-Formal Education (NFE) program. The NFE program had been providing alternative education for Jordanian youth for years, giving them a chance to be reintegrated into mainstream society. With similar needs growing in the Iraqi refugee community, Questscope extended the scope of its program to accommodate Iraqi children. In the NFE classroom, Fahed gets a taste of normality, sitting side by side with Jordanian youth, in a collaborative learning atmosphere. Once living on the fringes of society, he is now offered a second chance to be part of a community.

Nabil is the mentor at Fahed’s NFE class, and like all Questscope mentors, he has been specifically trained to reach out to traumatized children, to communicate with them and build a circle of trust. An extremely challenging task, but one that brings significant impact. Nabil was very patient with Fahed, taking him regularly on walks in the playground, letting silences and time bridge gaps. “Mr. Nabil is a good friend to me, when I was ready to talk about what happened in Iraq, he was there for me, ready to listen,” said Fahed. With chilling detachment, Fahed opened up to his mentor sharing traumatizing stories of family loss, torture, and the explosion that left his arm severely injured.

Thousands of children like Fahed have been forced to grow up too quickly. Questscope believes that those children, who have been left behind, deserve a second chance at starting a new life, because one child without hope is too many. Fahed wants to become an electrician when he finishes his education, he dreams of his future and takes steps towards it.

We are taking a stand and asking you to take a stand with us, to help us prevent refugees from losing hope even as they lose their homes and families.

The war is over, but the challenge remains.

 *Exact numbers aren't easy to come by. UNHCR estimates that there are 700,000 Iraqi refugees in Jordan, solid statistical studies are lacking. Jordan's population is 5.5 million—in the United States, an equivalent influx in proportion to the population would be 38 million refugees.