Mohammad Khair is part of Blumont’s team on the UNHCR-funded Community-Based Protection Services (CBP) program at Za’atari Refugee Camp in Jordan. As a coordinator of activities and resident of the camp, Mohammad wanted to share his story.
My name is Mohammad Khair, 32 years old, and I am a Senior Coordinator for Blumont community centers at Za’atari Camp.
I fled from Syria in 2013 and joined Blumont four years ago to train teams on policies and our code of conduct. I would visit community centers across the camp to conduct program evaluations, address challenges, and look for areas of improvement—producing weekly reports to share findings and encourage progress.
Before I was forced to move to Jordan, I had studied English Literature at Damascus University for two years. While living at the camp, I received a scholarship from Al-Zarqa University and considered quitting my job to pursue my studies. Instead, Blumont offered me a later shift as a Center Coordinator after I finished my morning classes, and thankfully I was able to balance work and study. I ranked first in my class for three consecutive semesters and graduated among the top three in my class.
Through my success as a Center Coordinator, supported by additional training, I was promoted to the role of Senior Center Coordinator, in which I serve as a point of focus connecting center coordinators with Blumont management. I participate in both the planning and the execution of various community programs, and as a member of the community myself, my suggestions are taken into consideration at every step of the process.
When the COVID-19 pandemic caused countrywide shutdowns, we formed an emergency team consisting of 15 Blumont staff, with myself as the point of contact. The main purpose was to conduct daily visits to all Blumont centers and facilities (playgrounds, community service units, etc.) to provide logistical support and raise awareness about COVID-19 preventive measures among our team and residents.
Mohammad works with women at the Mask House, a socially-distant mask production center that employs over 80 women.
Blumont community centers are a trusted source for information among refugees, so an important part of our role was counteracting false information about COVID-19 in the camp and addressing community concerns. We also continued to distribute hygiene kits, masks, gloves and other essentials to all units and facilities, continuously taking preventive measures into consideration.
When I first fled to Jordan and resided in my tent, I was a recipient of services. Now I am a service provider, and I feel great satisfaction whenever I contribute to the bigger impact left by Blumont on the refugee community. I don’t work only to get paid, but I feel ultimate happiness when I dedicate my time and effort toward the benefit of others—improving their present reality and future, expanding their knowledge, and developing their skills.
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