She Cares in Shadows, She Builds in Light
In the quiet neighborhood of Hashmi Al-Shamali in East Amman, Ibtisam (48) lives with her three blind siblings—Izdehar (65), Iftikhar (59), and Ayman (54)—and her 22-year-old niece, who lost her mother and whose father is currently imprisoned. Since the death of her parents in 2007, Ibtisam has been the family’s only caregiver. With no formal education, no stable income, and only modest government support for her siblings, she has carried the full weight of her household with quiet strength.
Despite the challenges, Ibtisam is known and loved in her community. It was her neighbor, a Syrian refugee and previous Habitat for Humanity Jordan beneficiary, who referred her to the organization.
“She knows my situation,” Ibtisam explained. “She spoke on my behalf. I didn’t even know who Habitat was… but you came, you listened, and you helped.”
Before the intervention, the family’s living conditions were deeply unsafe. Broken doors and shattered windows let in cold air and rain. The kitchen, small and exposed, lacked storage, forcing Ibtisam to place items on the floor, creating constant tripping hazards for her blind siblings. There was no privacy between the kitchen and bathroom, and the lighting was poor and unsafe.
“Every day I was afraid,” Ibtisam recalled. “Afraid the door wouldn’t close, afraid my brothers would fall or get hurt… I couldn’t relax.”
Habitat for Humanity Jordan conducted a home assessment and began work immediately. The team repaired the doors, installed new sealed windows, redesigned the kitchen layout with accessibility in mind, added safe storage cabinets, improved lighting, and installed partitions to provide privacy in key areas of the home.
From that point on, everything changed.
“I never imagined this could happen,” Ibtisam said, smiling. “The difference is like earth and sky. Sometimes I sit in the house and say to myself, ‘Alhamdulillah… it feels like a dream.’”
Her brother Ayman felt the same way:
“Thank you so much. You made me feel safe—and gave peace to all of us.”
What brought Ibtisam the most joy was the new kitchen space:
“It feels so big and open now! I’m not afraid anymore. I was able to put everything in the cabinets, and I don’t worry about my brothers tripping over things.”
The support she received extended beyond materials. Neighbors also offered help—cleaning, donating blankets, and standing by her in difficult times.
“To me, community means the people who show up when things are hard, like my neighbor, and like Habitat.”
With a secure and adapted home, Ibtisam dares to hope again.
“All I want is for the house to remain safe… for my brothers to live in comfort… and that none of us has to ask for help again.”
