Making today matter in Za’atari refugee camp

Hope through cinema

"Most of these children have never seen a cinema before."

When Jana Abbas says this, her voice lights up. She's talking about Cinema Al-Za'atari, a cinema in a refugee camp in Jordan. For kids who've spent their entire lives in Za'atari refugee camp, stepping into that dark room and watching a movie on a big screen is pure magic.

Since reopening last year, the cinema has welcomed about 10,000 children and screened around 20 international films, including a special Eid showing of Shaun the Sheep. But for Jana, the cinema is more than entertainment—it's hope. It's a place where children can laugh, learn, and feel normal, even if just for a few hours. It's also a space for training sessions—firefighting, first aid, drug awareness—skills that can save lives.

From Sweden to Jordan

Jana is from Sweden and she is a UN Volunteer. She started her assignment in October 2024, funded by her home country. She is based in Jordan with the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and works as a Humanitarian Affairs Associate.

In her role, Jana monitors the humanitarian assistance on the ground, gathering and analyzing data to understand the needs of affected communities. She coordinates with local partners to ensure timely humanitarian response and access, while drafting reports and advocacy materials that guide decision-making.

My space—my hope

One of the projects Jana collaborates on is called Makani ('My Space' in Arabic) centers, which provide a safe space for children and adolescents to access learning support, child protection and other critical services.

Since 2015, UNICEF and its partners have worked to ensure the most vulnerable children and adolescents don't lose what matters most: the chance to learn, grow, and feel safe. Inside Makani centers, the noise of uncertainty fades. Here, children find classrooms where they expand learning, engage in play, and strengthen their sense of community.

Each center offers a world of possibilities:

• Learning Support so education doesn't stop when life gets hard.
• Skills Building to prepare young people for a future they can believe in.
• Child Protection to keep every child safe and respected.
• Early Childhood Development to give the youngest a strong start in life.

And this is where part of Jana's volunteer role fits in. She engages with local Syrian volunteers, known as incentive-based volunteers, to bring children to screenings and workshops, ensuring that activities are accessible to everyone.

"The programme helps children and adolescents have a safe environment to access informal education, psychosocial support, build relationships and gain confidence," she shares.

"I work with Syrian refugee children, and children who have only known displacement most of their lives. Through my work, when I go to the camp, I see firsthand how humanitarian assistance can transform lives. Programmes like Makani—like the cinema, provide safe spaces to play and to grow. It offers the refugee children a sense of normalcy in the Za'atari camp."

Jana's volunteer assignment will run until October 2026. She amplifies the importance of her home country's funding to the United Nations and to the Sustainable Development Goals.

"By supporting volunteers, they [Sweden] are also supporting the organization's objectives [by delivering a larger] workforce, even if it's for a year or two. It helps the organization. It helps sustain the programme that they're working on."

It's always about the children

Being in Jordan comes with both challenges and opportunities.

"The first challenge I faced was navigating the system because humanitarian work is not only one section."

Timing is another hurdle to overcome: "Overseeing multiple programmes at times requires coordination of internal procedures across multiple units."

Nevertheless, Jana emphasizes, "the only thing that keeps me grounded is the children. It's always about them. It's about fostering stability. It's about giving children the opportunity to grow and develop and build trust between the communities and the institutions that try to serve them."

This UN Volunteer assignment has changed her life. It took her from coordinating programmes behind a desk to standing inside Za'atari camp, where she sees firsthand how safe spaces like Makani and the cinema transform childhoods. For Jana, every report, every meeting, and every training session now carries a deeper meaning—because she knows her work is not just about ticking boxes.

"The UN is not perfect. But it's an institution like no other. It works at the grassroots and at the policy level. Every effort counts—no matter how small."

"This volunteer assignment has given me an opportunity of a lifetime to grow as a person and has opened my eyes to the realities of humanitarian work that I wouldn't have seen otherwise. If you care about making a difference, start where you are. Every act of kindness adds up."

Making today matter

Jana knows the road ahead isn't easy. Across the humanitarian sector, funding cuts are reshaping priorities and shrinking resources. Programmes that once felt secure now face uncertainty. Yet, in the middle of this, Jana stays focused on the children in Za'atari—their laughter in the cinema, their determination in Makani classrooms. For her, every moment counts.

"The future is uncertain," she says, "but that doesn't stop us from making today matter."

This story was produced by UNV—the organization of the United Nations that promotes peace and development through volunteerism.

For information about UN Volunteer assignments, click here. To read our stories, click here.