Iftar at king Hussein's orphanage

Aiming to ease their pain, compensate them for what they lost, and reassure them that they are loved, cared for and valued, Naya CC - in cooperation with URI MENA office - held a Ramadani Iftar at king Hussein’s orphanage in Irbid ( A city about 80 km to the north of Amman ), where participants from three different religions and three different cooperation circles sat side by side with the orphans and dined right after Azan was called for by every mosque in the city, in a scene worthy of  a Ghog’s.

After Iftar and Almughreb prayers, orphans of ages 3 – 12 years old could be heard laughing from a mile distance, as Ameenah ( One of the participants from Iris women ) assembled everyone in a big circle, and displayed some of her charisma and quick-wit, teaching them some new games, so amusing, so hilarious that adults could not help but jump in and squeeze themselves among who looked like their age-peers at a time .

It’s worth mentioning that workers from the British embassy who were nearby decided to join URI members in entertaining the kids for about an hour and a half of non-stop fun .

URI CCs in Jordan have pulled off yet another successful activity on their voyage to draw a smile on everyone’s face, and planning for more and more .

Iftar : The evening meal when Muslims break their fast during the Islamic month of Ramadan .

Azan : Islamic call to prayer .

The coin dealer

An Iraqi refugee, he has been embracing this corner of the world for the past 20 years, I used to buy coins from him when I was a kid. When he asked me about this sudden interest in taking a photo of him, I lied. I lied and told him I was going on a trip to the US and wanted my childhood memories to accompany me all the way over the Atlantic. And then, just at this moment a smile came along to shine his dark rough complexion. He rushed through his rusty, dusty old coins, pulled one out and asked me in kindness to memorize the symbol it carried on it. I observed the symbol and nodded. He then asked, “Can you get me a belt from the US with this symbol carved on its buckle on your way back to Jordan?”

“Would you wait for a year till I get back?” I replied.

“I would, even for five years,” he answered as if he was promised immortality.

“I will get you one,” I lied. I walked away, damned, banned from heaven, hovering in vain trying to recall the directions (North, South, West … East is no longer one of mine).

If you are interested in finding out what symbol he was talking about, check out the picture below !