Displaced Children: Naba's story, Amman, Jordan: Save the Children

Displaced Children: Naba's story, Amman Jordan

Press Release: Displacement Increases the Vulnerability of Iraqi Children

Naba in her home in Amman reflects on her new life.

It is almost three years since Naba and her brother Omar, who were then 10 and 7, were kidnapped in the streets of Baghdad.

"Dad sold absolutely everything we had, the house, the shop, the car, to save our lives," she said. "Shortly afterwards, we fled. I didn't want to leave Iraq, but we had to save our lives."

Today the family lives in Jordan along with thousands of other displaced Iraqis. They have found security and are grateful for the protection they have received from their neighboring land.

Displacement and crises make children vulnerable. Iraqi children here have been forced to leave behind all that is familiar – homes, schools, friends and family. Getting them back into school is the first step to helping them regain a sense of normalcy and hope for the future.

Save the Children is working with the Jordanian Ministry of Education to help displaced Iraqi children and youth keep up with their studies and gain the skills needed to be productive adults.

Education offers hope and protection, and Save the Children-supported classrooms provide a positive environment where some 30,000 children are learning.

Save the Children is supporting children around the Kingdom to receive a quality education.

While their education needs are being addressed in Jordan, many displaced children are seeing their economic situation deteriorate as their parents cannot legally work to support their families. Without a way to earn a living, families are forced to live on savings, remittances from Iraq or from other less reliable forms of income.

Naba's family lives on what savings they had and help from humanitarian agencies. They dare not think about what happens when their savings run out. Their dream is to get asylum in a Western country.

Abdul, Naba's father, was active in Iraq in a peace and human rights group. Today he volunteers with Save the Children in Jordan, assisting with outreach to the Iraqi community and working to ensure that his and other children receive a quality education. He is one of 35 Iraqi volunteers who go from door to door in the community of Iraqis living in exile, discussing education options and other issues.

Naba's brother, Omar, admits that he is often sad because his mother and father are sad. So, it is good to be able to grab his schoolbag in the morning and get on the bus to school. He has found new friends there and hope for the future.

"I'm happy when I am at school. I like learning and meeting my friends. School can maybe open new doors for me. As long as I can go to school, I'm an optimist. I want to be a policeman and go home to Iraq. I want to keep my country and my people safe, to protect the peace," says the 10-year-old.

Naba's brother, Omar (standing in the center), works hard in school and knows the power of education.

When asked what they dream about, Naba smiles: "That Iraq will get peace, and we will be able to go back. And that I'll be a doctor so I can help other people."

Omar adds, "Iraqis mustn't fight anymore. We children don't want any more war and killing and kidnapping. We want peace for everyone."

Save the Children believes that education today is hope for tomorrow. Quality education can give children critical skills and opportunities, and promote peaceful and more stable societies.