Imagine having a hearing impairment and also living in a refugee camp.

Nine Syrian children living in refugee camps in Jordan and 11 Jordanian children and young people from vulnerable communities in Salt, Jordan (13 boys and seven girls) were fitted with hearing aids and earmolds as a result of your generosity in contributing to the ABM AID Good Friday Gift this year.

Thanks to your gifts, 20 children with hearing impairments can now hear. They can also now access greater educational opportunities

Hearing disability specialists assessed the children and conducted diagnostic tests. They then fitted the hearing aids and earmolds to the children. Finally, both the children and their parents were given training in how to use and maintain the devices.

Anfal, from one of the refugee camps, was one of the children supported with the hearing aids. She had not undergone any hearing examinations and had never worn a hearing aid before. Because of her hearing impairment, she had become very introverted. People could not understand her, and she was unable to communicate with them.

Apart from being fitted with hearing aids, Anfal was then enrolled in the academic program at the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf in Salt, Jordan, and is progressing well. She is learning sign language, and her family and community report a great improvement in her interactions with them.

It will still take much time and patience both by Anfal and her parents and teachers, but it’s likely she will continue to make good progress towards leading a happy and productive life.

The Holy Land Institute for the Deaf continues to monitor the success of this activity.