Early childhood education in the camps
In Al-Za'atari refugee camp, we run Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) Centres for children from three months to four years old. These are carefully designed spaces that build children's emotional, social and cognitive foundations, and prepare them for school. In 2025, 2,659 children were enrolled in our early childhood centres, 1,833 completed the full learning cycle, and 1,016 caregivers benefited from sessions.
Our centres deliver inclusive education with age-appropriate, individualised learning plans aligned to each child's developmental needs. Children's progress is tracked using internationally recognised tools, ensuring evidence-based programming and continuous improvement.
A shoe cabinet in front of a class in an ECCD Centre in Al-Za'atari
Children enjoying a puppet show by their teachers at one of Save the Children's ECCD Centres in Al-Za'atari
The centres make a particular difference for children with disabilities, who are often turned away elsewhere. Six-year-old Lia* has Down syndrome and lives with her family in a refugee camp in Jordan. Her family faced repeated rejections from schools inside the camp - none were prepared to integrate a child with disabilities. Lia struggled with nearly every aspect of daily life: she couldn't communicate her needs, was fully dependent on her mother, and expressed her frustrations through constant crying. When she joined our ECCD Centre in Za'atari, she had never received any therapeutic or specialist support.
Within six months, with the dedication of our teaching team and her family, Lia made remarkable progress. She began joining group activities, started imitating sounds and speaking simple words, learned to hold a pencil and scissors, and gained independence in her daily routines.
Ghadeer, one of our special education specialists, has worked at the ECCD Centres since 2012, making a three-hour round trip from Amman every day. She says every minute of it is worth it. "We are always seeking a safe childhood. We are making an impact for the children to have love and humanity."
Fatema, a volunteer teacher who fled Syria 13 years ago, has watched the centres grow from a single tent to a network of facilities serving thousands of families. Her own son attended as a toddler and is now a high-achieving student in grade seven. "These centres really give hope to childhood," she says.
Protecting children from child labour
In the Jordan Valley and Mafraq, many children are working in the fields.
Our 2025 research into child labour in Jordan's agricultural sector found that nearly two thirds of child labourers had dropped out of school entirely, with financial hardship overwhelmingly the driving force. Families face average household incomes of around 150 Jordanian Dinars a month, leading to food insecurity and debt - with 77% of interviewed caregivers saying they had gone without enough food in the previous week.
Khaled*, 17, is a high school student from Jordan Valley. He lives with his younger brother Omar*, 13, and his aunt Fatema* since their parents separated. Khaled* had to drop out of school to work on the farms and help earn some income for the family. But thanks to Save the Children support, Khaled* is now back in school.
The picture is more complex than simple poverty. Many families are headed by women who have been abandoned or whose husbands are unable to work. Most parents say they disapprove of their children working in the fields, and over two thirds describe it as dangerous - yet they see no alternative.
Through our "From Fields to Futures" project, we provide cash assistance to families so children can return to school, alongside parenting sessions that help caregivers understand their rights and their children's needs. In 2025, the project reached 484 children through case management services, with 225 receiving psychosocial support and 385 caregivers attending positive parenting sessions.
Haneen*, 35, is a mother of four whose children had dropped out of school to work alongside her in the fields. After attending sessions with Save the Children and our partners, she received monthly financial support and began to see education as something she could fight for. "A real heavy burden was lifted from my shoulders," she says. "If it were not for them, I would not be where I am today."
The bigger picture
Jordan sits at the heart of a region under enormous strain.
In early 2026, Save the Children warned that more than 100 million children across at least 15 countries in the Middle East and wider region are living with the impact of escalating conflict. Jordan is not immune. The children we work with - whether Syrian refugees in Al-Za'atari or vulnerable Jordanian families in the Jordan Valley - need sustained, expert support to rebuild safe, stable childhoods.
Page last updated May 2026
*Names changed to protect identities
