Ma’rouf and his children enjoy “1001 Meals” experiences
“The future is a mystery,” Ma’rouf says, his tanned skin glistening in the still-bright December sun. He is unsure when he will return to Syria. The 44-year old father of five and grandfather of two hails from the village of Um Walad in Daraa, Syria. Before arriving in the Zaatari refugee camp in 2012, Ma’rouf was a taxi driver in Syria. He has been part of the 1001 Meals team in Zaatari camp since the programme launched in Zaatari last April and he continues to support the team in the new phase that started in November.
When asked about his dreams, Ma’rouf says,
My only dream now is for my children to live beautiful days and, most importantly, to secure their future.”
Through employing Syrians like Ma’rouf to assist in the delivery of the Programme, 1001 Meals supports refugees in Zaatari through providing them with work opportunities. Ma’rouf adds,
Not only has working with 1001 Inventions and the World Food Programme on 1001 Meals been a good job opportunity, but it really is a great initiative as well, which both, we, the adults, and children benefit from. My daughter, Noor, and son, Muhannad, attend school here and they both participated in the event. The children are very happy to see and meet Ibn al-Haytham and are immersed in the experience, in addition to the valuable information they learn through the experiments.”
Ma’rouf’s son, Muhannad, is in the sixth grade. Muhannad says,
Ibn al-Haytham and the programme taught us how we see and how to become scientists like him. Scientists are people just like us but they have grand ideas. Ibn al-Haytham kept trying, no one believed him but then he did it, he discovered how we see.”
To support the initiative, download the ShareTheMeal app on your smartphone (select to join the “#1001Meals” Team) and with just a tap you can donate US$0.50 to “share the meal” with a child in need.
#1001Meals / www.1001meals.org
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About United Nations World Food Programme
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the largest humanitarian organization saving lives and changing lives worldwide, provide food assistance to more than 90 million people in 84 countries annually by delivering food assistance in emergencies and working with communities to improve nutrition and build resilience. In addition to their efforts in relief and rehabilitation, development aid and special operations.
Since 1964, WFP has been present in Jordan working with the Jordanian government, as well as international and local organizations, to create economic and livelihood opportunities for food insecure and vulnerable communities.
WFP’s operations have also supported the government in providing food assistance for half a million Syrian refugees in camps and in the host community. WFP has also been offering vocational training opportunities and on-the-job training to develop human capacities and improve employability for targeted vulnerable Jordanians and allow the opportunity for the current influx of Syrians to be self-sufficient.
About 1001 Inventions
1001 Inventions is an award-winning, British based organisation that creates international educational campaigns and engaging transmedia productions aiming to raise awareness of the contributions to innovation, technology and culture from the golden age of science in Muslim Civilisation.
1001 Inventions has engaged with over 450 million people across the globe working with a network of international partners, including UNESCO, National Geographic and leading academics to produce interactive exhibits, short films, live shows, books and classroom learning materials that are being used by hundreds of thousands of educators around the world.
