Improving Homes and Lives in Jordan: Livelihoods
Hanan and Sahar were both facing hardships. But neither of them could have foreseen that with a little support from IOCC, they would dramatically better each other’s lives.
Hanan, a widow from Jordan, is the primary breadwinner for a family of six. She had no stable income, few marketable skills, and was largely dependent on charity. “This was a very difficult situation,” she recalled, “especially after my husband’s death.”
Sahar leads a family of five, including a daughter and son who have hearing disabilities. She also struggled with the added challenges of income instability and poor housing.
“The hardest thing was that the house door wouldn’t close properly,” Sahar said. “I have a deaf son and daughter and if someone entered the house, they wouldn’t hear them and might not be able to scream for help, so I didn’t feel safe.”
Life began to change when a friend of Hanan’s sent her a link to apply to join an IOCC vocational training course, funded by the Austrian Development Agency and Diakonie ACT Austria. There, she learned home repair and maintenance skills. She also created a business plan and received a start-up tool kit.
IOCC then matched Hanan and her new skills with Sahar and her dangerous, dilapidated home. Hanan fixed the entrance door, eliminated problems with dampness, and repainted the apartment. She also added lighting and renovated the bathroom.
“They [IOCC and Hanan] truly changed my life. I now feel safe and enjoy keeping my home clean and organized. My home feels brand new,” said Sahar.
“This training was the opportunity of a lifetime,” Hanan said. “I was a woman who depended on others, but I have become independent. I work hard and have gained confidence in myself. Even my image in the eyes of my children has improved.
“When I renovated Sahar’s home, her happiness became my happiness because I saw how her life had changed. That was all possible thanks to what we learned through IOCC,” said Hanan, smiling.
