Ruwwad - Jeeran (Neighbors)

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Jeeran

Jeeran (Neighbors)

As part of Jeeran’s plans for 2007 and in cooperation with Habitat for Humanity, Ruwwad has completely renovated 7 homes with the assistance of volunteers and community members. The homes were chosen from a number of applications and based on financial need and the condition of the house.

In addition, the program works in 3 other homes a month to do minor renovations around the house, create outlets for children, and make the homes more aesthetically and functionally pleasing. The projects are all low-budget and make use of donated materials, furniture and supplies and most importantly the skills and efforts of friends and neighbors. Every family whose house is chosen to work on then volunteers to work in the next home that is selected. Jeeran also works to improve the conditions of the streets and outside spaces, using paint and colors as a tool to reflect the unique randomness of the area.

Through meeting with people and building relationships, Jeeran also works to identify the challenges and issues that people face in the community due to poverty or the lack of access to information. One of these issues was the lack of awareness on the part of older people that the government provides free health insurance for people over 60. Volunteers from Jeeran decided to undertake the entire transaction related to securing health insurance for anyone over 60 to save time and the hassle of doing so themselves. 120 people have so far received their health insurance cards as part of this service.

Several children who have dropped out of school or have never been to school due to learning difficulties and disabilities have also been identified through the program. They are encouraged to come to Shams il-Jabal Library where Ruwwad’s educational experts help the children to catch up and go back to school or find alternative programs for them to continue their education and later learn a skill or a profession.

Jeeran embodies the values of volunteerism, cooperation, self-empowerment and civic engagement which Ruwwad has become known for in the area, and allows the organization to continuously build more ties and relationships in the community.

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