Day 8: Fun Day & Passing Out Remaining Food Parcels

The last day at Al-Azraq was what the whole week was leading up to. The opening of the school and Funday with the children was to be held that day. The day started off at the HFA center with the loading of all the school supplies bought earlier in the week. We drove out to the location where our school was built and started to roll out the carpet, build the tables, and set up the chairs and banner. While working on the school, children slowly started to line up outside waiting for the Funday to start.

After the school was complete we collected the children, turned up the music, and started playing with them. Musical chairs, dancing, soccer, the parachute game, bubbles were only to name a few. Refreshments were served and goody bags filled with toy cars, balls, coloring books, crayons, and tiaras were handed out. The children were waiting the whole day to get them and when they did, they were so excited that some of them didn't even want to open the bags "to keep them safe and clean". The kids stayed a bit longer but started to hug us their goodbyes since they had a long walk back home. Just like that Funday was over. There were supposed to be 60 children but 140 attended.

We cleaned up and set out to finish passing out the remaining 126 food parcels. From door to door and tent to tent, we started seeing familiar faces from the day we dropped off water tanks. Some children came running to us greeting us and welcomed us back into their homes. They asked us if we could visit them the following day but became disappointed when they heard that today would be our last day. They thanked us, told us to have a safe trip and invited us to visit their homes again in the future. When the truck pulled out of their homes, off to the next destination, the children would run with it as far as they could waving their goodbyes. 

We ended at the camp's center telling the people that made the trip possible our appreciation and farewells. They told us how proud of us they were and I couldn't help but think that they should be the ones that should be proud. Doing what they do every day isn't easy. They've become role models and I'm glad to say I've had the honor of meeting them.

The overall experience truly touched every corner of my heart. Leaving all the new people and friends behind was probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do but it's made me more passionate about the cause and I'm truly looking forward to our next trip inshAllah.

-Sarah Abaza

Day 6 & 7

Day 6: Food Parcel Distribution
3/16/16

Today we were supposed to distribute 200 food parcels to the Syrian refugees with another 50 to be dispersed by Humanitarian Family Aid (HFA). We went to the supermarket which was providing us with the food parcels. When we arrived at 8AM we discovered that the driver for the truck we were taking had still not arrived. After a half hour of waiting, we were really worried because we still had no word on when he was expected to arrive. Every time we asked when he would be arriving, we were told “5 minutes”. After an hour and a half of waiting and increasing pressure on the vendor, he contacted another driver to help us deliver the food parcels.
Finally, at 10AM, our new driver arrived and everyone quickly loaded up the truck. We were two hours behind schedule and stressed about how we would get this accomplished today. We could have delivered all of the food parcels to the center in Al-Azraq and have the Syrian refugees make the trip over to pick them up but we did not want to make their lives more difficult than they are. We were worried the team we were meeting at Al-Azraq might not let us complete the deliveries today because we had lost so much time. As it gets darker in the area, it becomes harder to drive on the roads and safety is always a concern.
We finally arrived at 1PM and started distribution that afternoon. On all of these distribution runs there are three vehicles; one vehicle which leads the team to the family locations, the truck carrying the merchandise, and the car with PACE and HFA volunteers. Many of the routes were rocky and made it very difficult for the smaller cars in our convoy.
As we pulled up to each site the families would rush out to greet us. They would be asked for their names and how many family members they had. When they gave us the answer, a women from the center would check her list and verify the information. This was to ensure families were receiving sufficient parcels. Each food parcel feeds a family of six for a month. So for example, if there are nine family members, they received two parcels.
We were amazed to see small children working together to lift these heavy boxes and carry them back to their tents and even more amazed by a pregnant woman we met, who had to be in her eighth month of pregnancy, who despite this lifted a box and carried it on top of her head as she walked back home. We struggled to lift and move the same parcels. 
After distributing a total 124 food parcels, our truck driver started to give us issues eventually refusing to continue with the distribution. He claimed that the roads were causing damage to his truck due to their poor conditions. It was also very late at that point and the remaining families were further out. The team wanted to continue on and tried to have the truck driver continue, but he refused. We were forced to stop distribution and decided we would have to complete this on Saturday after the school opening and fun day for the students. Friday was not an option since the center was closed that day.


Day 7: Preparation for Final Day
3/17/16
Since we could not carry out any distributions today, we prepped for our final day. We went over our interviews and each family’s medical problems as they told us in them, searched for the medicines they stated they used, and the best price we could find for them. Later we purchased the snacks for the fun day.

-Yasmen Bagh

Day 5: Water Tank Distribution!

3/15/16

Last night our team decided to leave earlier than usual, at 6:30AM today, since we had 25 water tanks to distribute. The tanks are large and we were unsure as to how long it would take to set each of them up. In addition to this, we were unsure how distant each family was from one another and we wanted to be able to reach all of the families and set up a water tank for each group while there was still light outside.

After we met with the team in Al-Azraq, we made our way to the tents to start distributing. At each tent the families would rush out to greet us and ask if they were going to get a tank. The amount of tanks distributed at each site was based on the number of tents in the area.

There was one site we went to where a Jordanian man approached the group to ask if he could get one tank but was told we were only helping Syrians. Denying the man water was tough for our team to hear as we want to be able to help everyone, but we could not help him because the funds we had raised were specifically for Syrian refugees.
We were asked to conduct more interviews today, focusing on individuals with more dire their medical needs.
The cost for each water tank is $77JD (roughly $108.57 USD) and to refill a tank with water costs $5JD (roughly $7.05 USD).
-Yasmen Bagh

Day 3 & 4: Family Interviews

Day Three
3/13/16

Today, it took us two hours to get from Amman to the Al-Azraq camp by car, which was faster than with the truck. The plan for the day was to go to the Syrian refugees' homes and interview them. 
When we arrived at the center early in the afternoon we were told that refugees had been waiting to speak to us to share their stories and ask for help since 8AM. We began our interviews at the Al-Azraq center and made our way to the apartments in the surrounding area. For the next six hours we heard endless stories about their challenging past. Those we interviewed seemed to be glad to just have someone to hear it their stories. 
All of the families shared a similar wish to return to Syria. 

Day Four (Family Interviews Continued)
3/14/16

The original plan was to visit families living in the tents, but the winds today were too strong. As a result the staff at the center told us we could not visit and that it would have to be done the following day.
Word spread throughout the camp that we were there and refugees came flocking to the center to see us so they could share their stories and seek help. Originally we were only supposed to see 15 families from the tents but others came and we could not turn them away, so we sat and interviewed each person that visited us. Many traveled a great distance to the center.  

During our interviews we asked each family about medical issues they or their immediate loved ones were experiencing and asked about any medications they struggled purchasing. The most common health issues were high blood pressure, diabetes, and disc problems.

There was one couple who stuck with me in particular. We had asked what their dreams and hopes were for their future. The husband’s response was "To return home". For some reason this couple really stood out to me and my sister and we couldn’t help but start to cry. Hearing all of these stories first hand became overwhelming. 
A young girl who was sitting in the room with us during some of the interviews asked me why I got so emotional. Her question broke my heart. 
A total of 28 families were interviewed between the two days.
-Sarah Abaza

On ground, Day 1 & 2

Day 1 Itinerary: Shopping for Tents

3/11/16

Our first day in Jordan... We're excited and anxiously waiting to see what the week will hold. We met with Aminah from Humanitarian Family Aid at 12PM to discuss our schedule for the week and what our plans will consist of. 
From 2PM to 7PM we traveled around Jordan to shop for the fabric and frame that we will be using to build the tent of the makeshift school. We visited eight shops to receive quotes and more information on where we could find the materials we need. Fortunately, a man from Amman accompanied us to help haggle the price and get the best deal. Haggling was difficult because the vendors were contacting each other to notify each other that we were asking for prices, passing on a description of our car and party.

At every shop, we did our best to bargain for the absolute lowest price the salesman would be able to give us. It was a difficult process due to the number of locations we traveled to, but we are working with our supporters’ valuable donations and need to get the most out of what we have. After comparing the prices and offers we returned to the store with the best price and after a long discussion came upon an agreement and placed the order for the tent to be made. We will be picking up the final product on Monday and will get the poles from Al-Azraq since HFA (Humanitarian Family Aid) has used them before and recommended them as a reliable sturdy material. To reduce costs, we will have volunteers from Al-Azraq help us set up the tent rather than pay the vendors to set it up for us.

Day 2 Itinerary: Shopping for School Supplies
3/12/16


Today we went out shopping for supplies needed for the makeshift school. Our first stop was to purchase the furniture for the school, 50 stools and 10 tables. Our second stop was to find a suitable carpet for the tent floor. It was a pleasant experience and the vendor offered us a great price. HFA has already worked with many of the local vendors and know the best locations, so we took advantage of what resources and knowledge they made available. We moved onto getting school supplies, such as writing instruments, notebooks, a white board, electric cords, and a storage cabinet.  We ran into a few instances where the store didn't have what we needed, so we proceeded to shop around until we found the best option available. We went to seven separate stores to get all of the supplies we needed. At the end of the day we unloaded everything from the truck and into the HFA center and were finished with all of our goals by 4pm. Tomorrow morning, we will be heading out to Al-Azraq camp!

Syrian Refugee Campaign

As the Syrian conflict enters its fifth year and continues to produce refugees as Syrians seek asylum elsewhere. It is now the largest humanitarian crisis in the world with half of the original population being killed or forced to flee their homes. Those who are fortunate enough to have escaped have lost their homes, status, wealth, and in many tragic cases family members. The United Nations predicts that there could be 4.7 million registered Syrian refugees by the end of 2016, making this the worst exodus since the Rwandan genocide 20 years ago.
Children affected by the conflict have been forced to drop out of school, are at a greater risk of becoming ill, malnourished, abused and exploited. This crisis plagues the news daily and the world has yet to provide adequate relief which the refugees desperately need.

PACE members are traveling to Jordan in March of 2016 to collaborate with one of our partner organizations based there (Humanitarian Family Aid) to provide necessities directly to the Syrian Refugees at the Al-Azraq camp. With the weather becoming colder, funds are currently being raised to provide food, blankets, heaters, and fuel. PACE seeks to alleviate what suffering it can by lending support, and if nothing else, restoring hope.

UBSNA Pledge

"Never does a man stand so tall, as when he stoops to help a child."

This age-old adage is one which UBSNA owner and CEO, Abe Thomas takes seriously. When one of Abe's directors recently came to him with a cause close to her heart - he immediately asked how he could help.

PACE: Philanthropic Aid through Collaborative Efforts, a non-profit organization, is planning a trip to give aid to children and their families, in Syrian refugee camps. Abe Thomas and UBSNA have pledged to not only help with this fundraising and humanitarian effort - but to match any and all funds up to $5000.

In times of war and unrest, while politicians teed barbs and rhetoric, the children, the innocents, are the ones who suffer needlessly. PACE seeks to alleviate some of this suffering by lending support, and if nothing else, restoring hope and some children's smiles.

Please join us in wishing PACE well with their charitable causes - and assisting in any way possible... Any donation helps - but most importantly, help us by spreading the word to as many eyes and ears as you can!