Zakat Stories

09 Mar 2026

Fadwa’s Story: A Greenhouse That Became the Start of Change

Fadwa, 47, lives with her husband and two children in a village in southern Jordan. The family has long faced serious financial hardship. Her husband works in construction, a job that is often unpredictable.

“The nature of my husband’s work is irregular,” Fadwa explains. “He works in the summer, but in the winter the construction market almost stops. There were many days when our refrigerator was completely empty. It affected the children’s health, education, and our mental wellbeing, simply couldn’t meet their basic needs.”

Fadwa tried many times to support her family. Although she holds a diploma in Information Technology, the lack of job opportunities in her village and the lack of public transportation made it nearly impossible for her to enter the workforce. As her husband struggled to find consistent work, the family’s situation became increasingly difficult.

Fadwa’s Journey with Tkiyet Um Ali and Dar Abu Abdullah

In 2017, the outreach team from Tkiyet Um Ali visited Fadwa’s home after her mother in law submitted a request for assistance. “When the team came to our house, they saw that our refrigerator was empty. There was nothing in it,” Fadwa recalls. “They came back again later to check on our situation.”

Soon after, Fadwa received a call informing her that her family is eligible for food parcels. “They treated us with such respect. That food parcel helped preserve our dignity and provided what my children needed.”

In 2025, Tkiyet Um Ali contacted Fadwa, but this time to invite her to participate in a hydroponic farming project implemented by Dar Abu Abdullah, Tkiyet Um Ali’s sister organization, in partnership with Mutah University.

Fadwa was eager to participate, especially as her husband’s health had deteriorated after suffering a heart attack. With growing debts and increasing family needs, she was determined to find a way to generate income.

She first attended an introductory session followed by training on hydroponic farming techniques. After completing the training, Fadwa was allocated a greenhouse where she began growing cherry tomatoes.

During the tomato season, Fadwa harvested around 600 kilograms of cherry tomatoes, generating a total income of 900 Jordanian dinars, averaging about 150 dinars per month.

“I used the money to cover my family’s debts,” she adds. “The greenhouse wasn’t just about income. Whenever I’m working in the greenhouse, I felt like I could breathe again.”

Fadwa hopes to continue working through the greenhouse project, especially as her daughter is currently preparing for the secondary school exams (Tawjihi) and hopes to pursue university education. Her son is also still in grade 10.

“I want my children to have a better future,” Fadwa says. “I want to make sure they complete their education.”

A Developmental Model for Sustainable Giving

The partnership between Tkiyet Um Ali and Dar Abu Abdullah operates through an integrated development model known as the Istidama Program. The program connects families receiving food assistance from Tkiyet Um Ali with economic empowerment opportunities through Dar Abu Abdullah, including training, capacity building, and income generating projects in underserved areas.

With a focus on sustainable agricultural initiatives, the program helps families improve their income and strengthen their self-reliance.

At its core, the program is built on the concept of The Developmental Endowment Charity Share, transforming traditional Sadaqah Jariyah into a structured developmental investment.

Fadwa, 47, lives with her husband and two children in a village in southern Jordan. The family has long faced serious financial hardship. Her husband works in construction, a job that is often unpredictable. “The nature of my husband’s work is irregular,” Fadwa explains. “He works in the summer, but in the winter the construction market almost stops. There were many days when our refrigerator was completely empty. It affected the children’s health, education, and our mental wellbeing, simply couldn’t meet their basic needs.”