30 November, 2021, on behalf of the government of Republic Of China (Taiwan), Representative Mr. Ismail MAE of Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Jordan signed the agreement with Mrs. Kari Diener, Country Director of Mercy Corps Jordan to donate 300,000USD to support the second phrase of Mercy Corp’s “Ishrak”: Adolescent Girls’ Empowerment initiative and helps the Syrian refugees in Za’atari and Azraq camp. This is the second contribution to this initiative from Taiwan after donating 250,000USD in August 2020.
Through “Ishrak”: Adolescent Girls’ Empowerment initiative, Mercy Corps will partner with refugee girls and caregivers in Za’atari and Azraq Camps to implement behavior change strategies that promote gender equality and girls’ empowerment. The girls will benefit from mental health and psychosocial support to enhance resilience and wellbeing through expressive writing and filmmaking curricula, and will also build on their improved skills, agency, and self-confidence to lead community initiatives that address needs expressed by their peers and the wider refugee community.
H.E. Ismail MAE expressed his gratitude for the achievements of the long-term partnership between Taiwan and Mercy Corps for various humanitarian and refugee relief works in Jordan since 2013. H.E. MAE, in his remark, also reiterated Taiwan’s constant stand in cooperation with the international community and like-minded countries to continuously provide needed assistance to the disadvantaged people in Jordan and the region.
Mrs. Kari Diener thanked the representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Jordan for Taiwan’s continued and increased support, saying “This is a true partnership built on mutual trust and respect”. The donation enables Mercy Corps to work with adolescent girls to increase their safety, well-being, and skills in Za’atari and Azraq camps. “Mrs. Diener also explained that the initiative is part of a larger program to support girls in refugee camps.
With Taiwan’s effort and contribution to Syrian refugees, it proves the saying again: Taiwan can help, and Taiwan is helping!
