“I just want to be able to work so I can help my parents who are still at Kasab Camp in Darfur.”
Life at Kasab refugee camp in Darfur, Sudan, was grim, and finding opportunities to generate income were nearly impossible. Unable to work or go to school, and knowing the importance of education for youth in his community, Adam volunteered to teach children at Kasab Refugee Camp how to count and write the alphabet. As violence and pressures escalated at the camp and in surrounding areas, it became nearly impossible for Adam’s family to cover their basic needs. Realizing that he would not be able to support his parents and younger brother in the tumultuous and unstable environment, he fled to Jordan with the help of a man who assisted him in obtaining a visa and arranged for his travel.
The third largest population of refugees in Jordan, Sudanese refugees are not allowed to work and face discrimination and harassment. Protracted refugee crises in the region and economic uncertainty have resulted in greater instability of the Jordanian economy and infrastructure. Over the past few years, access to education and public services by refugees has become increasingly difficult. Before conflict erupted in the 1990s in Sudan, agriculture and raising livestock were the main sources of livelihood. Adam was studying general sciences in high school so that he could specialize in Agricultural Engineering but was unable to attend university when violence broke out near his hometown.
Adam has been in Jordan for four years now and in spite of many challenges, he has managed to learn English while attending courses provided by Blumont and Jesuit Refugee Services (JRS). Due to the restrictions on work and school attendance, Adam’s best chance for a future that allows him access to education and livelihood opportunities is resettlement. As he awaits news on resettlement, he helps Blumont conduct home visits and supports his community by serving as a liaison for members of the Sudanese community at hospitals and distributions. He also volunteers with UNHCR as a representative for Sudanese refugees in Jordan, taking part in community activities and serving as a liaison between the community, Blumont, and UNHCR.
Situations like Adam’s are all too common among Sudanese and Somali refugees in Jordan. The essential services that Blumont delivers provide these communities with access to courses and activities that develop transferrable skills such as soap-making and English and Arabic language literacy as they await resettlement.
CBSR II is funded by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
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