The Azraq Education And Community Fund Inc

OUR MISSION IS TO RESTORE DIGNITY AND ENRICH THE LIVES OF SYRIAN REFUGEES AND OTHER VULNERABLE FAMILIES LIVING IN THE RURAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITY OF AZRAQ, JORDAN BY PROVIDING INNOVATIVE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES AND CRITICAL HUMANITARIAN AID.

FOUNDED IN 2014, THE AZRAQ EDUCATION CENTER IS AN ACADEMIC ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM PROVIDING REMEDIAL EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SYRIAN REFUGEES AND VULNERABLE JORDANIANS IN SOUTH AZRAQ, JORDAN. THE AZRAQ CENTER HOSTS 350+ STUDENTS STARTING AT LEVEL PRE-K THROUGH GRADE 12. WE OFFER DAILY INSTRUCTION IN ARABIC, ENGLISH, MATH, SCIENCE, IT, ART, MUSIC, AND MORE FOR SOME OF THE MOST VULNERABLE CHILDREN IN AZRAQ. OUR PROGRAM AIMS TO BENEFIT THE WIDER COMMUNITY THROUGH REGULAR OUTREACH, AWARENESS SESSIONS, HUMANITARIAN AID DISTRIBUTIONS, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES. WE ARE PROUD TO HAVE CREATED 20 JOBS FOR MEMBERS OF THE AZRAQ COMMUNITY THROUGH THE CENTER. 98% OF THESE JOBS ARE FILLED BY WOMEN. EXPENSES FOR THE CENTER INCLUDE LOCAL SALARIES (TEACHERS, SCHOOL COOK, BUS DRIVER, AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR) (SEE PART IX LINE 7), A LUNCH PROGRAM, TRANSPORTATION TO PICK UP AND DROP OFF STUDENTS, AND PROGRAM SUPPLIES INCLUDING ELECTRONIC TABLETS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

IN 2021, WE CONSTRUCTED ON A NEW SCHOOL FACILITY FOR THE AZRAQ EDUCATION CENTER. THE BUILDING AND LAND IS OWNED BY OUR LOCAL JORDANIAN CHARITY PARTNER, NACHMYAT EASTERN BADIA ASSOCIATION, WHO GIVES AECF EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE SPACE FOR OUR EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR A NOMINAL FEE OF $1. THE BUILDING CONSISTS OF 10 CLASSROOMS, ONE SPECIFICALLY-DESIGNED MONTESSORI CLASSROOM, AN IT LAB WITH COMPUTERS AND TABLETS, LIBRARY AND STUDY SPACE, SPORT COURT, THEATER STAGE, SCHOOL KITCHEN, PLAY AREA, AND RECEPTION ROOM. THE BUILDING OPENED IN SEPTEMBER 2021 FOR MORE THAN 350 STUDENTS. COSTS INCLUDED LOCAL CONSTRUCTION, SUPERVISION, AND SUPPLIES. THIS PROJECT WAS GENEROUSLY FUNDED BY A DEDICATED DONOR. THE BUILDING IS TRANSFORMATIVE FOR THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY AND WILL SERVE IT THROUGH CHARITABLE ACTIVITIES FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.

IN COLLABORATION WITH THE BLOSSOM HILL FOUNDATION, AECF OPERATES A MONTESSORI-INSPIRED EARLY EDUCATION CENTER FOR 60 CHILDREN AGES 3-5. TEACHERS HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN MONTESSORI METHODOLOGY AND USE MONTESSORI-SPECIFIC TOOLS IN A PEER-TO-PEER ENVIRONMENT, TEACHING CORE SKILLS INCLUDING READING, WRITING, BASIC MATH, AND LIFE SKILLS.

THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDES CRITICAL HUMANITARIAN AID TO FAMILIES IN NEED. IN 2021, WE RESPONDED REGULARLY TO EMERGENCY FOOD SHORTAGES CAUSED BY THE DETERIORATING ECONOMIC SITUATION CAUSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND MORE THAN A DECADE OF FORCED DISPLACEMENT DUE TO THE ONGOING CONFLICT IN SYRIA. OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR, WE DISTRIBUTED HUNDREDS OF KILOS OF STAPLE ITEMS LIKE RICE, OIL, BEANS, AND OTHER NON-PERISHABLES. WE ALSO DISTRIBUTED FRESH MEAT, FRESH FRUIT AND VEGETABLES, AND CLEAN WATER. AECF RESPONDS ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS TO OTHER EMERGENCY NEEDS INCLUDING SPECIAL NEEDS CASES, SEVERE POVERTY, HOUSING CRISES AND MORE.