Volunteering in Jordan
The most popular area of volunteer work in Jordan are: youth empowerment, social work, and awareness raising. There are a lot of opportunities to work with youth in Jordan, as local schools desperately need additional support, not the mention half of the population is under the age of 30. There are also opportunities to work with disabled youth especially as Jordan is building up support systems for individuals with disabilities. Women’s rights and work with refugees are popular placements within the realm of social work volunteering in Jordan, since the Middle East has been in the international spotlight concerning women’s issues and Jordan hosts a high number of Palestinian and Iraqi refugees.
Other opportunities for volunteering abroad in Jordan include community development, construction, healthcare, tourism, and work with Bedouin tribes. The nation has put a focus on sharing their cultural capital recently, so there are many options for volunteer work in Jordan that integrate learning customs and traditions.
Volunteer placements in Jordan can range in length from two weeks to multiple months. Although speaking Arabic would be extremely helpful during volunteer work in Jordan, it is not required in most volunteer programs. However, volunteers should be aware that Arabic and English are the most commonly spoken languages in the country. As a volunteer in Jordan, it is important to remember that the communication style is very direct and typically it is appropriate to ask a lot of personal questions, especially regarding family.