Some of the most vulnerable populations in Jordan are those who have come to the country in search of refuge from violence in the surrounding region. Host to 10 official Palestinian refugee camps, Jordan serves as home to more than 335,000 people currently registered with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).  Living conditions in the camps and surrounding neighbourhoods are poor, and non-communicable ailments like diabetes, hypertension and cardiovascular disease are on the rise due to inactivity and poor diet.  Another area of concern for children and youth in Jordan is access to psychosocial services, as most have suffered from either direct violence or have witnessed violence in their communities.

With the support of the office of Her Royal Highness Princess Haya Bint Al Hussein, in August 2006, Right To Play began its Jordanian operations in Amman, Irbid and Zarqa.  In addition to working with Palestinian Refugees, in 2007 Right To Play’s project expanded to include public schools in the southern city of Aqaba, targeting impoverished Jordanian populations.  Work in Aqaba has continued with funding from the Royal Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD).

In order to address the issues faced by both refugee and national populations at risk, Right To Play facilitated training for teachers in Red Ball Child Play – Right To Play’s holistic child development program – and in Early Child Play, a development program specifically for early childhood education.  In addition, Right To Play has introduced the resources Team Up, Sport Specific, and Youth As Leader, to achieve change in their related outcome areas: conflict resolution and youth engagement. Each weekly activity includes a sport or play session that is designed to foster knowledge in a specific area of interest, whether it is health knowledge, violence prevention or gender equality.

The goal of the program in Jordan is to create a safe and interactive learning environment for children and youth, particularly girls.   Participation in regularly scheduled sport and play-based activities contributes to improved basic education, health and life skills development.  As well, the programs incorporate an element of capacity building work with parents and support children and youth as they develop the critical leadership skills that will enable them to become active participants in the community.

In 2011, Right To Play plans to reach: 29,403 children and youth (55 per cent female); 1,031  teachers and staff of partner organizations (60 per cent female); 55 schools; 73 community centers

Partners: Higher Council for Youth; UNRWA; Jordan Ministry of Education; the Islamic Charity Centre Society; Sanabel Al Khair Society; Al- Dhia Association for the Visually Impaired Children (CBO); Child Welfare Society of Northern Badia (CBO); the United Nations International Children’s Fund (UNICEF); and Standard Charter.