Ruwwad - Madaress (Schools)

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Madaress

Madaress (Schools)

Atika Bint Zeid Primary School was the first school that Ruwwad worked with as part of its programs in Jabal Al-Nathif and in response to the needs of the community as identified by its members. Improving the conditions at Atika was a point that was repeatedly mentioned during focus-group discussions and meetings with community members as one of their top priorities. The school was founded in 1959 and houses seven hundred students taught in two shifts. Since it is a rented facility, the government does not spend money on its maintenance and the school principal is expected to take care of all the needed renovations in addition to paying for all running costs, for an annual budget of JD 700 (US$ 1000).

Our work started by exploring all the problems encountered by the teachers and the pupils, and by carrying out a full inspection of the school. We found a string of troubles such as construction issues with the building needing a complete overhaul.

In agreement with the Ministry of Education, Ruwwad renovated the entire school using materials donated by various Jordanian companies and ran a photography and art workshop project at the school to build trust with the students and help identify their extra-curricular needs and wishes. Based on these needs, a children's camp was organized in the summer of 2006 where the children took part in a variety of activities aimed at expanding their horizons, encouraging freedom of expression and creating avenues for fun-filled learning.

As a result of the work with Atika, teacher-training was identified as an important need, and in the summer 2007 all of the teachers at the school are taking part in a capacity-building program organized by Ruwwad in association with the Education for Employment Foundation to help teachers improve their teaching methods and incorporate interactive learning tools into their teaching plans.

Working with Atika helped pave the way for future projects with other schools in the area, all of whom have since approached Ruwwad with requests to run similar programs with them. Ruwwad will work to renovate six schools in the summer of 2007 and will run extra-curricular and teacher training activities during the 2007-2008 school year.

Reflections by Rabiha Khalil, the school principal:

"I have been teaching at the Atika Primary School in Al Nathif for the past twenty four years and I was appointed headmistress a few years ago. I love this school, I feel that it has become a part of me and my pupils are like my own children. This school is government-run and we are responsible for all its needs, therefore, due to a severe lack of funds we are often hard-pressed to modernize the premises. Also, we often lack basic provisions to help us in our teaching tasks. It was a great surprise when Ruwwad came to visit us and offered to help us improve the conditions at the school. It was as if all my hopes had been answered – you know it is a wonderful thing what they have done to this school. They came here and saw the state of affairs and immediately went to work – they really did what they promised they would, this is a rare occurrence in life. They changed the whole look of the school and gave it a complete face-lift. They worked on the outside of the building and on the inside. The most wonderful part of it all is that the change in the children's environment has had a profound effect on them. They are happier and more motivated, they feel pride in their school and this gives them confidence and a newfound sense of worth. Most people, I believe, have a certain memory about their school days that stays with them for the rest of their lives, whether it is a positive one or a negative one it sticks with you and serves to shape you in one way or another."

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