In the schools of the Southern Jordan Valley, a small water bottle might seem like an ordinary thing but for children living in an area suffering from water scarcity and high salinity, it carries a meaning far greater than simply a drinking vessel; it reflects a sense of humanity and social solidarity.
اضافة اعلان
Children arrive at their schools carrying their water bottles, greeting them with visible joy, as if receiving something long awaited a simple happiness that captures a slice of life for children living in difficult conditions, for whom access to safe drinking water is a daily, essential need. Between school desks and courtyards, a water bottle becomes a source of comfort and reassurance, bringing great joy into children's lives amid water scarcity and rising temperatures. For this reason, initiatives to provide safe drinking water for students continue in Southern Jordan Valley schools, through the "Water Irrigation" (Saqya Al-Ma') project, implemented by the Masar Al-Khair Association for Sustainable Development, in cooperation with the National Society for Community Rehabilitation, and with support from the Bible Society, aiming to provide clean, potable water and ease the hardship of students in the most in-need areas.
Providing Filtration Stations in Targeted Schools
These charitable campaigns come under a special initiative called "Water Spring" (Yanbou' Al-Ma'), which involves installing filtration stations in targeted schools usually located in remote areas and in dire need of clean drinking water with priority often given to schools serving hundreds of students.
The first targeted school in the Southern Jordan Valley area was Fatima Al-Zahra Girls' School, where Osama Al-Muradat, Director of Educational and Administrative Affairs at the Southern Jordan Valley Education Directorate, stated in a media comment that the "Water Irrigation" project aims to provide clean water to students in the district's schools in phases, amid water scarcity and its unavailability to required standards in some areas.
Since the presence of clean water may be one of the most important factors in providing a healthy and safe environment for children, who sometimes travel long distances to reach their schools, Al-Muradat affirmed that installing filtration stations helps improve students' general health, ease their daily hardship, and raise awareness of the importance of providing water as a form of social solidarity.
The sight of children carrying their water bottles at school has become one of the joyful scenes there. Someone might think this joy is exaggerated or a familiar, ordinary sight, without realizing how great the need is for such containers, which children refill at school and then take home, as one of the ways they can also secure safe water for their families.
Assistance Provided to Needy Families
Many initiatives carried out in Jordan Valley schools or in remote areas alike are essentially aimed at reaching children in schools, since difficult living conditions could otherwise push them to give up on their dream of education.
Among the pioneering initiatives in some remote areas is the one carried out jointly by the Masar Al-Khair Association for Sustainable Development, the Bible Society, and the National Society for Community Rehabilitation a set of assistance programs provided to needy families in general, ranging from in-kind, medical, and food assistance, and most importantly, developmental assistance, aimed at developing the local community broadly in ways that reduce hardship among families.
Secretary-General of the Bible Society, Munther Ne'mat, says the project reflects the Society's commitment to serving people and supporting local communities, noting continued work to expand the initiative to include additional schools and areas, according to priorities and field needs, to ensure safe water reaches the largest possible number of students.
Ne'mat also notes that these projects were implemented after field assessments of the reality of schools and remote areas, which revealed a great and ongoing need to provide this service and establish new stations, noting that the Society continues to implement the "Spring of the Water of Life" project and expand its reach to different areas of the Kingdom.
Enrolling in School Amid an Atmosphere of Joy and Happiness
To spread joy among children as well, there have been other school-related distributions, such as distributing school supplies that students need.
This gives them motivation and encouragement to attend school amid an atmosphere of joy and happiness they look forward to, through the smallest gifts that can be given to them being children, these in-kind gifts are simply one of the forms of support that bring joy to their hearts.
The "Water Irrigation" project is among the most notable projects distinguished by its sustained presence in remote areas, having been in operation for several years. Its delivery methods may vary, but it remains part of the framework of water-provision projects launched following study and field follow-up by the entities supporting the project.
On this, the Director of Programs and Projects at the Bible Society, Issa Al-Batarseh, says the "Water Irrigation" program is part of awareness-raising and humanitarian programs aimed at delivering water to students in remote and impoverished schools, through implementing sustainable projects that help ease their hardship and provide potable water, achieving a lasting humanitarian impact.
For his part, the head of the National Society for Community Rehabilitation, Fathi Al-Huwaimel, affirmed that the "Water Irrigation" project is among the important humanitarian and community initiatives that strengthen the spirit of social solidarity and community service, ensuring the availability of drinking water for students in the district's schools through installing filtration stations in schools.
The "Water Irrigation" project is not limited to Southern Jordan Valley schools, as the Masar Al-Khair Association for Sustainable Development is working to expand its scope in cooperation with a number of supporting entities and institutions, to reach more areas and groups in need.
Providing Drinking Water for Students and Needy Communities
This work strengthens the presence of this charitable effort as one of the areas of giving with direct impact, stemming from a great value; the Prophet, peace be upon him, said: "The best charity is providing water" a saying the project translates by providing drinking water to students and needy communities, making this simple act of giving a lasting impact in the lives of those it reaches.
For his part, coordinator of the Masar Al-Khair Association for Sustainable Development, Mohammad Al-Qaraleh, said the association launched the "Water Irrigation" project in light of the conditions residents of the Southern Jordan Valley are living through, aiming to provide safe, clean drinking water to the local community and students, especially in areas experiencing very high temperatures and water scarcity.
Al-Qaraleh explained that the project pays special attention to students, considering them among the groups most affected by high temperatures, which can reach around 46°C during summer, at a time when some students travel long distances to reach their schools, making the provision of safe drinking water an essential necessity for them.
Al-Qaraleh added that the project ensures water is provided to students within the school, alongside supplying them with water at the end of the school day, helping them stay hydrated and avoid the effects of dehydration and high temperatures on their way home.
He noted that the initiative stems from the association's mission of supporting local communities and enhancing access to basic services, affirming that providing safe water for students helps improve the school environment, support the educational process in the most in-need areas, and reinforce the concept of sustainable development and community solidarity.
Source: Al-Ghad. Reporting: Taghreed Al-Saayda
