Near East Foundation

People We Serve

Community of Dayr Al Kahf

Dayr Al Kahf is divided into 8 towns, which are home to more than 13,000 people. The region hardly has any natural source of income at all, leaving most inhabitants living at a subsistence level, dependent on shepherding. Due to its isolation, there are very few grocery stores, convenient stores, health centers, or other sources of basic commodities.

After meeting with many local organizations, the Near East Foundation decided to support 4 projects to improve the lives of Dayr Al Kahf’s inhabitants—a supermarket, cooking gas distributor, party supply company, and a sewage truck. Following this decision, in April 2010 the Near East Foundation and a local cooperative rented a small space to build the town’s first and only supermarket. This new store is now frequented by nearly all the town’ residents, who no longer need to take a time-consuming bus ride to buy groceries—basic necessities such as chickpeas, rice, oil, laundry detergent, and frozen meat are now readily available. The supermarket’s revenue is enough to cover its running costs, the rental space, and a salary for the employee who serves as cashier and accountant.

A related problem dealt with the lack of cooking gas, making it difficult to prepare meals. In May 2010, NEF helped establish a cooking gas distribution system. Now a colorful gas truck donated by the NEF distributes gas for 6.5 Jordanian dollars (JD)—a service that previously cost more than 20. The gas tanks are supplied by the local gas company and distributed from one single point near the new super market. Although the project is only two months underway it has already sold more than five hundred tanks to families all around Dayr Al Kahf.

The community also desperately needed its own sewer water collection system. Since the 1960s, most houses use underground septic tank systems, but families were reliant on expensive services from companies based more than two hours away to empty the tanks. Now, after two months of discussion and planning, Dayr Al Kahf has its own sewage truck provided by NEF to maintain hygiene and water purity in the area.

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