Love Into Action...... is a UK charity making a difference for families struggling with severe disabilities in the Middle East
Love Into Action is a small UK charity with a big heart. For over a decade we’ve been walking alongside families in the Middle East who are caring for children and adults with profound intellectual disabilities, especially in places where support is scarce. Whether it’s providing a few hours of respite so an exhausted mum can rest, or driving down dusty desert roads to visit a family in need, we put love into action for those who need it most. Our work is rooted in Christian faith and values of compassion and hope, but we welcome and support families of all backgrounds. What We Do Home Visits & Family Support It is normal to find us out on the road rather than at the centre, visiting families in small towns, villages, and Bedouin communities, often far out in the desert where there is little or no other help. We spend time in sitting rooms, courtyards, and tents, sharing Arabic coffee or sweet mint tea, listening to parents’ stories and getting to know daily routines. Rather than arriving with big plans or telling families what to do, we live and work alongside them, sharing life and gently showing what might help. Together we look for small, realistic changes that can make daily life easier and better for everyone in the family. Any ideas or activities we suggest are simple, low-cost, and practical – things that can work in the homes and tents where families actually live, not only in a well-equipped centre. Short Breaks & Respite at the Centre Our centre in Mafraq exists to support what happens in the family home. When children and young people come, they enjoy safe, meaningful activities – sensory play, communication, movement, and simple skills that bring joy. At the same time, their parents and caregivers get a much-needed chance to rest, be with other family members or simply breathe, knowing their son or daughter is in caring hands. Our centre is not about having the latest equipment; it is about people, relationships, and ideas that families can realistically use. We intentionally use simple, low-cost materials so that activities can be easily copied at home. All our centre-based respite is planned with home in mind. We look for ways to build on what families are already doing and to send children home calmer, happier and with ideas that can fit into everyday routines. The priority is always the family and life together at home; the centre is there to back them up. Training & Empowerment We don’t just provide a service and leave – we empower others to help themselves. Our staff coach parents and local volunteers in hands-on care techniques, simple therapy exercises and ways to engage children with complex needs. We also share good practice with other charities and community groups, equipping staff and partnering on projects so that more people with disabilities can be reached beyond our own programmes. It is about creating a ripple effect of knowledge and compassion. Our Story Love Into Action began its journey in 2012 in Bethlehem. Over the years our centre there served hundreds of young people and adults with severe disabilities alongside their families. The centre became a beacon of hope – a place filled with laughter, learning and the aroma of fresh coffee for visiting parents. When it became impossible to continue operating there, due to the local turmoil, we had to make the heart-wrenching decision to close the Bethlehem centre and relocate. Packing up years of work and memories took time – over four years to carefully move equipment to Jordan – but our mission continued. Today Love Into Action has taken root in Mafraq, Jordan, a city with a large underserved Bedouin community and many Syrian refugees. After a long search, we transformed a run-down building into a centre designed for individuals with profound disabilities. Our dedicated team – a mix of local staff and volunteers from around the world – work together to ensure everyone gets the attention they need. We have restarted family outreach in the community, rekindled relationships with families we knew in and around Bethlehem, and opened our arms to new families across Jordan. Through all these changes, our goal remains the same: to put our love into action for every family that needs it. Why It Matters Many of the families we support have been living in isolation and exhaustion before they find us. In communities that often overlook or misunderstand disability, parents raising a child with complex needs carry an enormous burden. Without support, they can feel utterly alone. On some of our early home visits, we discovered parents so overwhelmed that they had resorted to desperate measures to keep their children safe. It is heart-breaking, but it underscores why we are here: no family should have to struggle that hard on their own. Basic necessities that many take for granted – like going to a doctor’s appointment – can be a nightmare for these families. Even a lack of safe and accessible transport can mean a child misses out on medical care they desperately need. Siblings can feel neglected because so much attention goes to the child with disabilities. Parents often reach a breaking point, running on little sleep and lots of stress. That is where Love Into Action steps in, and the difference a little support makes is incredible. By giving parents a chance to rest, even for a day, we see their stress begin to melt away. The respite we offer has led to safer routines at home, reduced caregiver exhaustion and moments of joy and progress for children who face enormous challenges. Our impact is growing each year. In Bethlehem our work touched hundreds of lives and built a close-knit community of families who supported each other. Now in Jordan we work with a solid group of families with severely disabled children each year, focusing on those who have nowhere else to turn. We are continually seeking out the most overlooked families – including Syrian refugees and nomadic Bedouin – to extend a hand of friendship and help. Our Vision At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: every single person matters. We envision a future where children and adults with intellectual disabilities are not hidden away or seen as a burden, but are celebrated as an honoured part of family and community life. We long for a world where disability does not mean isolation and where every child can enjoy life in all its fullness – laughing, learning, and loving right alongside everyone else. We know we cannot change the whole world overnight, but step by step we are making a real difference, one family at a time. With compassion, persistence, and a whole lot of love, we will continue turning love into action until that vision becomes reality. Thank you for being part of this journey |
Love Into Action is a small, UK registered charity working with families of children, young people and adults with significant intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Middle East, with a particular focus on northern Jordan. We partner closely with parents and caregivers to provide practical support, specialist care, and a safe, welcoming community. Our aim is simple: to make it easier for families to keep going, knowing they and their children are not alone.
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