A Syrian Refugee, Making the Most of Motherhood
In Jordan's Za'atari Refugee Camp, a Syrian mother is raising strong, healthy children, with support from UNICEF.
Fatima was six-and-a-half-months pregnant when she and her husband fled Syria with three children under the age of 5 for Jordan’s Za’atari refugee camp.
“We walked the last few miles to the border," says Fatima. "It was difficult with the bags and the baby inside me.”
Her baby, Rima, was born at the camp, but she was very small and thin.
"Many people said she would not survive," recalls Fatima. But thanks to UNICEF, which has been providing health care to the 80 babies born in the camp every week, Rima got regular checkups, which have helped her grow healthy and strong.
This year, Rima started kindergarten. She's only 6, but already, she has big plans for her future — and a clear sense of how to achieve them:
“If I want to become a doctor," she says, "I must study.”
UNICEF has been on the ground at Za'atari since it opened in 2012, providing health care, nutrition, education, water, sanitation and hygiene for the more than 44,000 children who live there.
This Mother's Day, help mothers like Fatima provide the very best care for their children by donating a Healthy Start Gift Basket in your mom's name. For $150 you can provide a family with a first aid kit, water and hygiene supplies, vaccines and other essentials children need to stay healthy and safe during those all-important early years.
GIFTS THAT CELEBRATE MOTHERHOOD
UNICEF Inspired Gifts are lifesaving items that can be purchased in honor of a loved one and go directly to help children in need around the world.
Top photo: Rima, 6, was born in Za’atari Refugee Camp, which is home to over 44,000 children. © UNICEF/UN0241715/Herwig
HOW TO HELP
There are many ways to make a difference
War, famine, poverty, natural disasters — threats to the world's children keep coming. But UNICEF won't stop working to keep children healthy and safe.
UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories — more places than any other children's organization. UNICEF has the world's largest humanitarian warehouse and, when disaster strikes, can get supplies almost anywhere within 72 hours. Constantly innovating, always advocating for a better world for children, UNICEF works to ensure that every child can grow up healthy, educated, protected and respected.
Would you like to help give all children the opportunity to reach their full potential? There are many ways to get involved.
