UNICEF’s Makani centre holds Ramadan celebration for children in Irbid

IRBID — Sounds of children playing and the smell of incense filled the Makani centre in Nuaimeh, Irbid. The building was decorated for the celebration of the holy month of Ramadan, adding colour to the grey weather in the north of Jordan on Tuesday.  

The Makani centre in Irbid is part of the Makani programme by UNICEF, and the Jordan River Foundation (JRF) is co-lead on the implementation of the programme. 

The Makani (“My Space” in Arabic) programme provides an integrated package of services including educational learning support services, community-based child protection, early childhood development and skill-building training for children, young people, families and community members.

The centre in Irbid is funded by the German Development Bank (KFW).

Around 70 Syrian and Jordanian children and youth were gathered at the celebration at the Makani centre on Tuesday. They were making and decorating lanterns and writing their Ramadan wishes.

“I wrote that I wish to become a doctor when I grow up,” nine-year-old Zainab said, while others wished for gifts, travelling and for the opportunity to be fasting during Ramadan in the future. 

Musa, an 11-year-old boy, was excited for the event, and for being gathered again after two years of COVID-19 restrictions.

“I am excited to celebrate with my friends, and I really like Ramadan. It is especially exciting since we have been in lockdown for a long time,” he said. 

UNICEF launched the Makani centre project in 2015 as a response to the increasing needs of children and youth in Jordan. Since then, UNICEF has established 137 Makani centres around Jordan. 

Ali Ma’an Maryan, from Altkaful Association, a community-based charity organisation, highlighted the demand for spaces like the Makani centres. 

“At the beginning of establishing the centres, we wanted to give the children education. The JRF allocated this centre in Irbid in partnership with Altkaful Association to support learning services in math, English and Arabic for children. The programme evolved and we started integrating child protection at the centre, and it evolved into the Makani programme,” he said. 

Muna Sultan, a programme officer with the Social Protection Sector at UNICEF, emphasised the need for events like the Ramadan celebration Tuesday.

“It is important to have these Ramadan-related activities to give the children energy and allow them just to be children. The event is important to connect to their community, share emotions and each of their own wishes for Ramadan. This celebration of Ramadan at the centre brings the kids together and gives them a positive experience,” she told The Jordan Times. 

Sultan further described how the Makani centre started as a response to the Syrian refugee crisis in 2015. 

“We saw a growing need for support among the children and youth to continue their education and also to give them a space to feel safe and protected,” Sultan said. 

The end of the event was marked by music and balloons, as the children ran out of the Makani centre to send their Ramadan wishes, tied to balloons, up in the sky.