19-01-2026 | di COOPI

Jordan. Protection and schooling for 905 vulnerable children

In the areas of Amman, Madaba, Zarqa and Mafraq, in Jordan, 905 vulnerable children and adolescents gained access to integrated protection, social inclusion and educational support services through the project “DAMEJ: An Inclusive Social Protection Approach for Vulnerable Children”, promoted by the MAECI through AICS and implemented by COOPI – Cooperazione Internazionale – ETS together with the local partner Mateen, between August 2024 and January 2026.

The project strengthened the community-based protection system for the most vulnerable children among Syrian refugees – the main beneficiaries – and Jordanian host communities. 86% of beneficiaries reported an improvement in their wellbeing and sense of social inclusion.

An integrated approach against vulnerability and exclusion

Thanks to an integrated approach based on case management, psychosocial support, socio-health services, cash assistance and specialised referrals, children at risk of situations such as child labour, school dropout, violence, early marriage, social isolation and exploitation were identified at an early stage.

During the intervention, 595 children and adolescents were supported through child protection services and dedicated assistance, and 95% of them expressed satisfaction with the support received in relation to their needs. This approach ensured coordinated support, reducing the fragmentation of services and facilitating access to them, with a tangible impact also on families, who are no longer forced to resort to negative coping mechanisms such as child labour or withdrawing children from school, but can instead rely on more stable and secure protection and support pathways.

Health and inclusion for children with disabilities

Particular attention was given to children with disabilities, who are often excluded from access to essential services, especially in areas outside the capital Amman, where specialised care and rehabilitation services are limited or economically inaccessible.

In total, 224 children received paediatric and specialist consultations, rehabilitation services and assistive devices such as wheelchairs, hearing aids and glasses. For many families, this represented their first access to adequate care and structured support pathways.

Since my son received the support he needed, it is not only his health that has changed. He has started going back to school more confidently, feels more self-assured and participates more actively in community life. For us as parents, it has also brought positive changes in our daily lives and reduced the difficulties we used to face.

said the parent of one of the children.

Socio-health support had an immediate impact on families’ lives, significantly reducing children’s vulnerability and increasing household stability, while easing the daily burden and reducing the sense of isolation linked to managing disability.

Returning to school, remaining children

Education was one of the core pillars of the intervention. Through cash assistance for education, protection and school transportation, 590 vulnerable children are now attending school regularly, reducing the risks of school dropout and child labour, especially in informal settlements and more marginalised areas.

For them, this meant returning to a daily life centred around school and relationships, where they could simply remain children. All families reported more regular attendance and improved academic performance, confirming the concrete impact of the intervention on access to education and future opportunities.

Stronger communities and empowered adolescents

Alongside direct services, DAMEJ invested in strengthening community protection networks by involving local institutions, civil society organisations and groups of adolescents.

Through four Adolescents Clubs, girls and boys designed 12 initiatives dedicated to social inclusion, bullying prevention and youth participation. Three of these were funded as community activities: in Zarqa, young people created a safe space for children with disabilities waiting for rehabilitation services; in Mafraq, they promoted inclusive activities; and in Sahab, they produced podcasts and audio messages dedicated to child protection.

In a context characterised by high socioeconomic vulnerability, a large number of refugee children and insufficient formal protection networks, these girls and boys strengthened their skills, self-confidence and sense of participation in community life, opening up a more positive outlook for the future.

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COOPI has been present in Jordan since 2007, working to promote social cohesion and resilience among host communities and Syrian refugees through interventions dedicated to child protection, access to education, psychosocial support and the economic empowerment of the most vulnerable people.