By Cassandra Nelson | Director of Multimedia Projects
Five months ago, nineteen-year-old Hussein Issa Massalmeh arrived at the Za’atari refugee camp in Jordan.
“When I arrived,” he recalled, “I made some mistakes. Some other guys asked me to work with them, but then they stole everything from me and didn’t give me any money. After that I just stayed alone and couldn’t trust anyone.”
His family still in Syria, Hussein lived alone in unfamiliar environment, struggling to envision any possible future for himself.
“In the beginning, I felt that life here was the same as death — like I wasn’t alive or dead, just nothing. I was destroyed,” said Hussein.
Like hundreds of other young men, Hussein spent his days near the gates of the camp waiting for any possible work. He spent the nights alone in his tent.
One day, when Hussein was waiting for work near the front gates, he saw a man he recognized talking with the other youth hanging around. It was Mohammed Al Karad, a 32-year-old Syrian refugee who had risen to notoriety as Syria’s national wrestling champion. Mohammed was now also a refugee at Za’atari camp.
This was one of the roughest parts of the camp, and Mohammed was not there by accident. Mohammed was serving as the volunteer Head Coach at Mercy Corps’ Shabab Littagheer, or Youth Center. The Center – two giant white tents, several trailers, and a large open yard – gives young refugees access to a gym, martial arts, fine arts, computer classes and training in life skills like leadership and communication.
It offers youth an escape from the chaos and confusion of camp life – a sense of normalcy and belonging, and, most importantly, the tools they need to envision a future.
Seeing his idol, Mohammed, at the Youth Center convinced Hussein to attend.
“Now I come to the Center everyday,” said Hussein. “It is doesn’t feel like I am trapped anymore. I have even made some good friends…For the first time since I left Syria I don’t feel so alone.”
Thanks to your generous support, Hussein and other Syrian youth have access to safe spaces like Shabab Littagheer. Your financial support has given thousands of young Syrian refugees the opportunity process trauma, take classes, talk about shared experiences and make friends.
The Syrian war, and the accompanying refugee crisis, has no end in sight. And Mercy Corps relies on your generosity and support to ensure that millions of young Syrian refugees are able to have some semblance of a childhood and mature into strong and capable adults.
You can continue to make a difference by:
By Carlene Deits | Project Leader
By Carlene Deits | Project Leader
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