Ghadeer’s Journey Back to Education
"Even if I had to walk, I would still come."
That's how Ghadeer describes her commitment to education. Five hours - that's how long it takes the 25-year-old mother to travel to Amala each week from her home in Jordan. But for someone who thought her chance at education had passed, the journey is worth it, every time.
Ghadeer is from Syria and now lives in Jordan with her mother, two sisters, and young daughter, balancing motherhood, family duties, and a small skincare business. Her education was interrupted during her final year of secondary school. "Before I joined Amala, I felt less than other people because I couldn't complete my education," she explains.
When a friend told her about Amala's Global Secondary Diploma programme in early 2025, Ghadeer was nervous about her English but applied anyway. Six months on, the transformation is clear. "At first, I was scared because of my English. But when I started the course, I kept supporting myself, and I realised I could do it. When I finished my project, I felt proud - it made me confident."
But it's not just about the skills for Ghadeer - it's about belonging.
"We are refugees, but here I feel peaceful and comfortable. Everyone feels like brothers and sisters. It feels like home," she says.
Recently, while attending a training session at a local Plant Nursery, Ghadeer shared insights from her Amala economics project on compost production. The agricultural engineer - a university graduate - was stunned. "She told me she'd never learned that information," Ghadeer recalls. "That moment showed me how much I've really learned."
Her family has noticed too. Her cousin in Syria saw a video of Ghadeer presenting and couldn't believe how confident and professional she looked.
"Before, I felt less than other people because I couldn't finish school. Now I know I can do more than them," she says.
Now strongly on track to graduate, Ghadeer's ambitions have shifted. She originally joined hoping to study business, but her focus has evolved to psychological counselling. She plans to pursue this at university and one day return to Syria to make an impact in her community.
Her message to other young people: "Life is hard, but you can do it. Believe in yourself, and never give up. When you find a chance - take it. It could change your life."
Through Amala, Ghadeer has reclaimed her right to education and discovered a clear sense of purpose - building a future full of hope for herself and her daughter.
Who: Amala Education
What: Expanding hope for refugee youth in Jordan through transformative secondary education
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