The little girl behind the window
Testimony from the field from our social worker Reem Al-Nakshabandi in Zaatari camp, Jordan
Being a social worker in Zaatari camp in Jordan, is not simply a job you wake up to every day. For me, it is the art of being close to the people, the art of building trust in order to help them… It is the human bridge you build before they get to the medical or mental health support they need.
It is saying practically : « You are not alone, I understand what you have been through, I feel you, I am here to help you identify what would be best for you, let’s talk and you are free to decide. But let’s keep moving forward » Trust is a key word, trust and freedom to do along what they feel is best.
A social worker is made of the people you meet, the story you hear and try to heal… Each story reflects the work you do… This is why I would love to share with you the story of a little girl I met. A little girl who left a big mark in my heart.
Amal is a 6 years old girl who comes from Syria. She lives in Zaatari camp, Jordan with her family. Little Amal (whose name means hope in Arabic) can’t walk. When I first met her she was sitting on her wheelchair, not smiling at all. Her mother told me how aggressive she was… She was never able to walk and the doctors found no issue for that. She was always hitting people; her own mother had many problems to communicate with her.
Amal didn’t want to talk with me, but each time I wanted to leave she gave me a sign to stay in her own ways… Behind her resistance to receive help, she somehow was asking for it all along… After several visits, I asked her to draw something she likes. She took some time then she drew me this:
With her big eyes staring at me, she explained to me: « This is a window… my window…. I can only watch the kids playing… »
I never imagined that colors could be this sad…
After drawing this, she was a bit happier. Suddenly I realized how sometimes the solution to your pain is not this far… I looked at her and said: « You might not walk like other kids but you can think, you can draw… You are a little princess behind your window »
Her sad eyes little by little were filled with glimpse of happiness…
You might think that this sentence and drawing isn’t that big of a deal compared to the burden of a little girl who can’t walk…But believe me it made all the difference. It was the first step to get to her world. And from this day on, she became more flexible with receiving the support she needed to have…