| Collateral Repair Project in partnership with LIFE for Relief & Development |
| BUY A NAIL - BUILD A COMMUNITY |
YOU MIGHT THINK THIS IS A HIGH PRICE TO PAY FOR A SINGLE NAIL,
BUT NOT WHEN YOU SEE WHAT YOU CAN BUILD WITH IT ... ESPECIALLY
WHEN UNITED WITH OTHERS, IN THE SHARED SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN
TRADITION OF BARN-RAISING THAT HELPED US CREATE OUR OWN
COMMUNITIES
BUT NOT WHEN YOU SEE WHAT YOU CAN BUILD WITH IT ... ESPECIALLY
WHEN UNITED WITH OTHERS, IN THE SHARED SPIRIT OF THE AMERICAN
TRADITION OF BARN-RAISING THAT HELPED US CREATE OUR OWN
COMMUNITIES
| Unfortunately, overall contributions to Collateral Repair Project have fallen dramatically this year. Contributions toward this center have been less than we had hoped and, regretfully, we must acknowledge that we cannot hope to realize this dream. Through our partnership with LIFE for Relief & Development, we are transferring the contributions that have already been made toward this project to help purchase sewing tables for a sewing training center in Basra, Iraq. This way contributions that have already been made for the Center will be used to help establish a center in Iraq for those suffering most. OUR GRATITUDE TO THOSE WHO GAVE GENEROUSLY TO BRING COMMUNITY TO THOSE WHO'VE LOST SO MUCH. When we were in Jordan, many Iraqi refugees told their personal stories of loss -- loss of loved ones through death, imprisonment or separation -- as well as leaving everything behind except what they could carry with them. They shared their feelings of isolation from family, friends and their larger communities back home. With the influx of so many Iraqis, Jordan saw a huge spike in the cost of rental housing along with a decrease in wages. This has had a negative impact on all in Jordan, sometimes resulting in resentment toward Iraqi refugees. Missing their home community, and excluded from being embraced by their local community in Jordan, their sense of isolation is even more profound. One day several Iraqi refugee women excitedly approached us with the idea of starting a small lending library in one of their homes. Enthusiasm grew as others heard about this idea and this simple vision of a home library evolved to include much, much more... IT SOON BECAME CLEAR THAT WHAT THEY WANTED SO PASSIONATELY IS A COMMUNITY CENTER |
'...It is so hard when someone feels that he lost everything - no country, no job and for sure there will be no future...all Iraqi refugees will get the
chance to regain their lost dreams....that's why this center will be so helpful for Iraqis to grant them a hope for new life...' SALWAN - IRAQI REFUGEE IN JORDAN
chance to regain their lost dreams....that's why this center will be so helpful for Iraqis to grant them a hope for new life...' SALWAN - IRAQI REFUGEE IN JORDAN
| YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE THEIR DREAM COME TRUE BUY A NAIL FOR ONLY $10 |
Home
Why this center is so
important:
Due to the conflict in Iraq,
about five hundred thousand
to one million Iraqis have fled
the violence of their country
to safer haven in Jordan.
They reside there as
temporary guests, most
without residency status,
without which they cannot
legally work. They live on
rapidly diminishing savings or
charity from others.
They live scattered
throughout the city, co-
mingled with local people,
rather than in camps or
enclaves with other Iraqis.
Displaced Iraqis, in addition
to having left behind family,
homes, jobs and all their
possessions, have also lost
their sense of belonging to a
larger community. Living
shadowed lives in exile, they
have little resource for safely
connecting with others, for
sharing or celebrating the
important events in their lives
with their long separated
extended family and former
neighbors.
This massive influx to the
population has placed a
tremendous burden on
Jordan’s already limited
resources and, as a result,
has had an adverse effect on
the local economy. Rental
housing prices have
skyrocketed and, along with
a significant decrease in
wages, have made life even
more difficult for all in Jordan.
The Family Resource and
Community Center will be a
place where Iraqi, Jordanian,
and Palestinian neighbors
can all come together to
access services and also to
share one another’s
celebrations and sorrows.
This will provide them with
the opportunity to get to
know one another, and
enhance the bonds of a
supportive broader
community
important:
Due to the conflict in Iraq,
about five hundred thousand
to one million Iraqis have fled
the violence of their country
to safer haven in Jordan.
They reside there as
temporary guests, most
without residency status,
without which they cannot
legally work. They live on
rapidly diminishing savings or
charity from others.
They live scattered
throughout the city, co-
mingled with local people,
rather than in camps or
enclaves with other Iraqis.
Displaced Iraqis, in addition
to having left behind family,
homes, jobs and all their
possessions, have also lost
their sense of belonging to a
larger community. Living
shadowed lives in exile, they
have little resource for safely
connecting with others, for
sharing or celebrating the
important events in their lives
with their long separated
extended family and former
neighbors.
This massive influx to the
population has placed a
tremendous burden on
Jordan’s already limited
resources and, as a result,
has had an adverse effect on
the local economy. Rental
housing prices have
skyrocketed and, along with
a significant decrease in
wages, have made life even
more difficult for all in Jordan.
The Family Resource and
Community Center will be a
place where Iraqi, Jordanian,
and Palestinian neighbors
can all come together to
access services and also to
share one another’s
celebrations and sorrows.
This will provide them with
the opportunity to get to
know one another, and
enhance the bonds of a
supportive broader
community
The Center will offer:
- RELIEF DISTRIBUTION
- ENGLISH LANGUAGE
CLASSES
- COMPUTER SKILLS
TRAINING
- LENDING LIBRARY FOR
ALL AGES
- GALLERY & WORK-
SPACE FOR ARTISTS\
& HAND-CRAFTERS
- SUPERVISED PLAY
GROUPS &
STRUCTURED EVENTS
FOR CHILDREN
- COUNSELING TO
IMPROVE COPING
SKILLS & TREAT PTSD
(post trauma stress disorder)
- A PLACE WHERE IRAQI,
JORDANIAN, AND
PALESTINIAN
NEIGHBORS CAN COME
TOGETHER TO
ACCESS SERVICES &
TO SHARE ONE
ANOTHER'S
CELEBRATIONS &
SORROWS
- THE OPPORTUNITY
TO ENHANCE THE
BONDS OF A
SUPPORTIVE,
BROADER COMMUNITY
- VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES FOR
SKILLED PERSONS
WHO WANT TO
CONTRIBUTE THEIR
TALENTS TO HELPING
OTHERS
It will cost $150,000 to open the Community Center, fully equip it, and pay for its first year of operation This is a lot of money but, if we each give just a small amount - $10 - we can do this! WE'RE POSING THIS AS A CHALLENGE TO EVERY US STATE TO CONTRIBUTE $3000 TOWARD THE TOTAL COST ONLY 300 SMALL DONATIONS OF JUST $10 WILL DO THIS WE'VE MADE A PLEDGE TO IRAQIS IN AMMAN THAT AMERICANS WILL DO THIS OUR GOAL IS TO RAISE THESE FUNDS BY SEPTEMBER - WHY WAIT? |
CLICK HERE TO CHECK YOUR STATE'S PROGRESS
| 'Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has' |
| Margaret Mead |
What will the $150,000 budget pay for?
- lease of a large building with many rooms to accommodate all of the Center programs with outdoor play
space for children
- furniture, kitchen equipment, carpets and other furnishings necessary for function and also to create a
comfortable inviting atmosphere for families using the center
- 10 computers for students in the computer courses - 2 staff computers - 2 printer / scanner / fax maxhines
- books and shelves for the lending library
- children's toys & games
- utilities, phone & internet service
- washing machine for cleaning donated clothing before it will be distributed through the Center's "free store"
- staff and teacher salaries
- security
- and more!
| '...there can be no peace, and ultimately no life, without community' M. Scott Peck |
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