Volunteers teach struggling third graders in weekend remedial classes

AMMAN — A group of Jordanians has been devoting their Saturdays to teach school children at the Jerash refugee camp, as part of the second season of their “Instil an Idea” initiative.

“Food is eaten, clothes become old, and money is spent, but only education lasts,” said the founder of the initiative, who preferred to go by the initials D.R., adding “our project is not for relief, but for development. We seek to give these children something sustainable that will make a difference in their lives and communities.”

Launched two weeks ago, the second edition of the initiative provides remedial classes in Arabic, English and Maths for third graders struggling at school.

“We focused on the third grade because it marks the end of the primary years, after which students will start to learn new things and earn advanced skills which are all built on what they are supposed to have learnt before,” D.R explained.

Volunteers include both university students and employees, who provide the children with worksheets, exercises, and handouts entirely designed by the initiative in line with the national curriculum, D.R. said, noting that any material is revised and edited by professional school teachers.

“The volunteers were trained by an experienced teacher on different methods and approaches before they started teaching,” the founder stressed.

Volunteer Farihan Al Sayyad, who already took part in last year’s season, said: “I used to be a mother of three children, but now I am the mother of many.”

Due to the low literacy levels among parents at the refugee camp, a number of school students need the additional care provided by the initiative. “I am building my community by teaching these children as we are not only instilling ideas but also values and morals,” Sayyad noted.

During the first season, the 10-member founding team assisted 86 students with the efforts of 72 volunteers; in the second season, they expect to reach 100 students with the help of 25 volunteers.

“We reduced the number of volunteers because we noticed that students progressed more when taught by the same person throughout the course,” the founder explained, adding “it is not always easy to ask children to come during the weekends to study, so our programme combines education and entertainment by involving various activities inside the class.”

She said they also give students “motivational gifts” received from donors such as clothes, shoes, or toys, in addition to taking them on trips to museums, cultural centres, or parks.

“I loved all my teachers and the programme was amazing,” said Omar Mahmoud, one of the participants in the first season.

“The programme did not only help children reach the average level at school, it helped them to excel. I noticed a great difference in my daughter’s performance, especially in Math and English. She can now read English texts fluently and she acquired a great vocabulary,” Zainab Ayyadh, a students parent told The Jordan Times.

“My daughter never felt obliged to attend on Saturdays. She was always very happy and enthusiastic to go,” she added.

For Syrian volunteer Hazem Al Da’as, “I felt like I should return the favour to Jordan and I cannot think of a better way to invest my time and efforts than by teaching a child.”

Volunteer Siba Obaid, who is a Syrian refugee herself, said: “I used to be living in a camp myself and I know how it feels to strive for education, so I was happy to take part in drawing a smile on these children’s faces.”

D.R. voiced her hope to expand to all the camps around the Kingdom, but stressed the lack of resources so far. “We preferred to focus our efforts on one place so we can measure the success of the idea and assess its results,” she explained, noting that the group is “more than happy to share their organisation plans, teaching curricula and activities with any entity or individual willing to replicate the project elsewhere”. 

“Just like any other children, these young people have ambitious hopes and dreams and they are willing to learn and develop,” Al Sayyad said, stressing “we can make their dreams come true if all segments of society partner in raising an educated generation that will build the bright future of the country.”