Ammon News - By Muath Freij/ Jordan Times

FUHEIS — Seeking to renovate local orphanages while encouraging children from all backgrounds to mingle, a local NGO held a special fund-raising iftar in Fuheis for some 80 children on Wednesday.

“We wanted to bring together the poor and the rich along with orphans at one place to play and have iftar,” said Sufyan Al Nimri, a volunteer with the organisers, the Spirit of Jordan initiative.

“We wanted to that all Jordanians are one big family,” the 36-year-old told The Jordan Times during the event.

Some 30 volunteers joined the children in the activities, which included games, dancing and a music by Drum Jam.

Eight-year-old Siba Harsh played and danced for the first time in her life.

“It was my first time to attend such a beautiful party. I really enjoyed the event today [Wednesday] because I made new friends as well,” she told The Jordan Times.

Children huddled around Rabeea Alnasser as she told them several stories, and after iftar, Jordanian singer Sanad Azizieh performed.

The event’s proceeds will go to renovate some orphanages in the Kingdom, according to Sanad Abu Assaf, founder of the Spirit of Jordan.

“We will set up a library in an orphanage in Ziziah and rehabilitate its playground. Our target is to maintain five orphanages by the end of this year,” he added.

He noted that volunteers sold tickets to the event at JD5 and invited members of the private sector to donate to support the project.

“We wanted to rehabilitate orphanages outside Amman because most orphanages in the capital receive a great deal of support,” Abu Assaf said.

Bashar Khreis, manager of Drum Jam, said the band decided to perform for free to encourage the children and entertain them.

“Children in general like music, and this performance will encourage them discover their inner talents,” he told The Jordan Times before the beginning of the event.

Zeid Kilani, one of the children who attended the concert, said he was “enchanted” by the drummer’s performance.

“I really like music and I hope that I will be a drum player in the future,” the eight-year-old said.

Abu Assaf voiced hope that the initiative receives further financial support to continue maintaining orphanages in the Kingdom.