Dozens of tiny hands crowd around a workspace table as a lesson in paper flower making gets underway. Keeping a careful watch over all of the pairs of scissors in motion, Arweej and Falah guide several children in making the first cuts and folds. For many of these children and their families, the Daycare Center is their sole source of childcare.
Shatha came to Jordan from Syria two years ago, and has been at CRP for three months. She has two children in daycare, a 5 year old and a 7 year old. Shatha herself is enrolled in both English and computer classes at CRP, and participates in the Women’s Empowerment Group.
“Without the Daycare Center I would not be able to come to CRP, because my children have nowhere else to go,” Shatha said. “My children really enjoy daycare. They talk about it a lot.”
CRP’s Daycare Center provides care for children from 9 months to 6 years of age. Daycare runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the same hours during which classes for adults are held at the Community Center.
Though the Daycare Center is just three months old, it offers a wide range of services for children. Not only does the Daycare Center provide a space for our beneficiaries’ children to play freely and rest, but it also offers guided instruction and activities. Children are given early learning lessons where they are taught both the English and Arabic alphabets, primary colors, basic food groups, and parts of the body.
The Center also stocks art supplies, and its staff shows children how to make simple crafts. A small playground just around the corner gives children the opportunity to get some fresh air and let off steam. Throughout the day, staff provide healthy snacks and check in on the children’s well being.
Arweej has been working at the Daycare Center since its opening three months ago. She hand-painted trees and flowers onto the already the colorful walls, developed art programs for the children, and taught herself how to make the paper decorations that decorate the entire space
Working at the Daycare has shown Arweej the challenges that come with caring for a group children with such varying ages. “There is a small space there where the infants sleep,” she described. “But sometimes it is hard for them to sleep when the other children are being so loud!”
“We only have one room that can house up to 15-20 children during peak hours,” Falah added. “We want to make the center’s space bigger so that children have more room to play and can participate in more activities.” Arweej nodded in agreement and
During our Spring Campaign we fundraised in order to launch our Daycare Program. We raised money for Daycare Staff, snacks, toys, and art supplies, and were able to get the program up and running quickly. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, we will be able to continue fostering our Daycare through the end of the year while we look for a long term grant.
Thank you to everyone who supports CRP. Your donations enable us to keep our community rich and offer comprehensive resources for our families.