Near East Foundation

People We Serve

Balama School for Special Needs

In Balama, a small city one hour north of Amman, there used to be more than 300 special needs children with no futures outside of the walls of their home. After realizing how many children were disadvantaged by social stigma and lack of services, a group of local men came together in September 2003 to start the Balama Society for Special Needs (BSSN). The five original members went door to door offering families support and encouraging people to address the rights of disabled citizens. Starting with just a single rented classroom and eight students, the society slowly grew to 100 members as its reputation spread to other cities.

Within only five years the society had begun hosting awareness programs on pre-natal health, information sessions on the needs of deaf and mute children, and training for special needs teachers. By fundraising and accepting private donations, the society bought and donated 100 wheel chairs and 22 hearing aids. They also received land from the Ministry of Social Development to build a school for special needs children, but once completed the school still lacked all the necessary supplies to function successfully.

In late 2009, BSSN contacted the Near East Foundation to request assistance for improving the humble, four-classroom building. After 9 months of collaboration, the school is now fully furnished, carpeted, and equipped with educational materials. In order to accommodate the 60 students attending it, NEF helped to fund a substantial addition. Now comprising 8 classrooms, BSSN is able meet all the needs of its 25 deaf and 35 learning disabled children.

NEF’s careful attention to detail ensures that the school is of use to all its pupils. The carpet installed throughout the entire building provides a comfortable place for students who are unable to sit in chairs during class. Tables of varying heights are provided to make sure that students with varying disabilities are able to participate in class activities. Thematic educational tools also vary in difficulty, ensuring that students of all levels are included in the learning process.

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