Resilience from within: how refugees in Zaatari protect and support each other
Resilience from within: how refugees in Zaatari protect and support each other
Established in 2012, just 15 kilometers from the Syrian border, Zaatari Refugee Camp now remains home to around 50,000 Syrian refugees. What began as an emergency settlement has gradually evolved into a vibrant community where refugees themselves shape solutions.
UNHCR, in collaboration with partners, supports a wide range of community-led initiatives across the camp aimed at empowering refugees, strengthening their self-reliance, and improving living conditions. These initiatives date back to the establishment of the camp and continue to grow, with more than 50 projects implemented since 2022. In some cases, UNHCR provides small seed funding to help launch or sustain these efforts; in others, it provides logistical and coordination support, with activities managed and maintained directly by refugees themselves.
Walking together, staying safe
Before sunrise, as dogs roam the dusty roads and the camp is still quiet, a small group of girls makes its way to school. They walk around a woman in a bright yellow safety vest, a slogan in Arabic shining on her back: “Our girls must be safe on the way to school.”
The Community Safety Network for School-Going Girls was launched in 2023 by refugee women concerned about early-morning safety, traffic, harassment, and fear that kept some girls away from school.
"Since I started going to school with Miss Basma, I have felt safe. My friends and I are no longer afraid" said Zeinab, a sixth-grade schoolgirl who walks to school each day accompanied by Basma, one of the volunteers, her voice full of excitement.
With UNHCR’s coordination, the zero-budget initiative now benefits around 60 girls each month, supported by 9 women volunteers who escort them daily – and it continues to grow as more girls choose to join.
Sharing clothes, preserving dignity
Driven by a simple desire to help, 31-year-old Feras pedals across the camp each day carrying more than donated clothes — he carries care. He is delivering them to the Clothing Bank, a refugee-run initiative that repairs and distributes clothing, supporting between 200 and 300 people every month.
As Feras explained:
“There were people in the camp who couldn’t afford clothes, even for Eid”, which motivated him to act.
With 3 other volunteers, they turned an empty warehouse into a clothing workshop during Ramadan in 2024, with just a 200 JOD (280 USD) seed funding from UNHCR, allowing them to buy basic supplies like irons, hangers, and repair materials, alongside donated sewing and washing machines.
The initiative quickly gained momentum. After the first announcement, Feras’ phone kept ringing as donations flowed in from families and shopkeepers. However, the increasing returns of refugees to Syria in 2025 has brought challenges for the Clothing Bank, with some volunteers deciding to return themselves. But the Bank continues to operate, sustained entirely by the community’s commitment.
“We're continuing it.” Feras doesn’t give up hope. “If I ever think about going back to Syria, it's essential that I find someone to continue the work, and in Syria, I’ll also follow the same path I've taken.”
A museum that keeps Syrian culture alive
In the camp, where half the population are children, and many were born there, refugees are preserving their heritage through a small community-run museum. Volunteers display handmade models of Syria’s archaeological and historical landmarks, from the Umayyad Mosque to the ruins of Palmyra, and others. Though built with simple materials, the ‘museum’ has become a hub for learning and storytelling.
Hamda, the refugee volunteer who currently leads the initiative, explained:
"We’re hopeful for the future and we are always trying to remind our children, and even ourselves, that we have a civilisation.”
With initial funding of less than 80 JOD (113 USD) from UNHCR, the project came together through the passion and resourcefulness of refugees. Almost every day, refugees from the nearby camp visit this modest museum. Some schoolchildren bring their families to see it, while others return with friends, eager to share and explain what they have learned in greater detail.
Ghofran, a 12‑year‑old girl who was carried as an infant from Syria to Jordan, said:
"We are really grateful for these models. They gave us an idea of what Syria is like before we go back. We learned so much about our country - our homeland”.
Through these initiatives, Zaatari Refugee Camp shows that solutions are not simply delivered -- they are imagined, built, and sustained by the community itself. Small efforts, like women walking girls to school, volunteers repairing clothes, or refugees preserving their heritage, turn everyday actions into shared responsibility.
By supporting local leadership and these collective efforts, UNHCR helps strengthen trust, dignity, and a sense of belonging, creating space for learning, leadership, and mutual support. Even the smallest ideas can open doors to new opportunities, empowerment, and hope.
