As part of its continuous efforts to further gender equality and address the physical and emotional consequences of gender-based violence, UNFPA Jordan Country Office in partnership with Save The Children Jordan opened today the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Led (AGEL) Center in Za’atari camp. More than 100 adolescent girls and parents attended the event. Adolescent girls from the center inaugurated the event with a performance of a play titled, “Child Marriage”, a Rap performance and a Zumba dance.

The opening of the center was attended by Her Excellency, Donica Pottie, Ambassador of Canada to Jordan, Mr. Robert McInturff, Senior Regional Refugee Coordinator of the United States Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Save the Children Jordan CEO, Diala Al Khamra, and UNFPA Jordan Country Representative, Ms. Enshrah Ahmed.

Situated in the heart of the Za’atari Market, the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Led (AGEL) Center is the first of its kind in the camp. AGEL, also known as the "Girls Shine Center" among the community, has become a hub for more than 300 adolescent girls months before its official opening. It is the only center in Zaatari that is open, exclusively, to adolescent girls.

“When we saw the eagerness of adolescent girls to join the activities and trainings offered by the center, we were thrilled. Our goal is to help adolescent girls realize their potential and become leaders in their community”, said Balqees Shahin, Project Field Officer at AGEL Center, Save the Children.

The AGEL center consists of a large covered courtyard and four rooms along its perimeter. The courtyard is the main social area where extracurricular activities such as painting, handicrafts, drama rehearsals and Zumba sessions take place. The surrounding four rooms are reserved for training sessions, informal meetings, a child-care center and a room for counselling services. “When I have some free time, I go to the AGEL center so I can read books and spend time with friends. I feel heard and respected by the mentors who work here. I can share my opinions without fearing a bad reaction”, said Sara, an adolescent girl who frequents the center.

Since its inception in 2012, Za’atari refugee camp has become the world’s largest camp for Syrian refugees. More than 9,700 adolescent girls between the ages of 10 years-old and 19 years-old live in the camp.

In addition to the hardships they face as refugees, adolescent girls often bear the responsibility of helping their parents with caring for their younger siblings, and they do not have access to safe spaces to help them cope with stress, build their resilience and develop the skills to thrive.

“Adolescent girls living in Zaatari camp are vulnerable to becoming victims of violence, child marriage and adolescent pregnancy. We are committed to empowering adolescent girls in the face of those risks because we believe that adolescent girls can lead the way to change when they are given the right opportunities”, said Save the Children Jordan CEO, Diala Al Khamra.

To address the challenges faced by the adolescent girls, the center’s team of mentors and adolescent girls have received trainings in Life Skills, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). The goal of the training is to empower them to advocate for themselves and other adolescent girls in the community, and to enhance their access to sexual and reproductive health and rights. The center also provides training sessions for parents to raise their awareness about gender-based violence (GBV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). They also encourage them to protect and support their daughters as they make their journey towards womanhood.

“When adolescent girls are empowered to take better care of their health, and build their social and financial skills, they can draw on those skills to solve problems, make better decisions and become leaders in their community. At UNFPA  we believe that initiatives like the AGEL center will help achieve our three zeros: zero unmet need for contraception, zero preventable maternal deaths and zero gender-based violence and harmful practices such as child marriage”, said UNFPA Jordan Country Representative, Ms Ensherah Ahmad.

The opening of the center was attended by Her Excellency, Donica Pottie, Ambassador of Canada to Jordan, Embassy of Canada to Jordan, Mr. Robert Mcinturff, Senior Regional Refugee Coordinator at the U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration, Save the Children Jordan, CEO, Diala Al Khamra, and UNFPA Jordan Country Representative, Ms. Enshrah Ahmed. The group also visited the SRH Clinic, the Women and Girls Safe Space, the Youth center in Zaatari camp.

*The Adolescent Girls Empowerment Led (AGEL) Center in Za’atari camp is generously supported by Canadian Government and United States Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM)

*Names of adolescent girls have been changed for protection.