Baqa’a Refugee Camp, Amman, Jordan This trip is full, please apply to the waitlist. Pharmacist needed!

The cost of this trip for each volunteer is tax deductible donation of approximately $850.00.  You will be notified of the final cost as soon as possible.  Volunteers are also responsible for purchasing their international airfare to Amman, Jordan. 

About the trip: Global First Responder, through our partners, Dr. Jeff Wade and the Orphan Welfare Association, has been invited to provide medical care at the Baqa’a Refugee Camp, approximately 20km from Amman. Baqa’a camp was one of six ’emergency’ camps set up in 1968 to accommodate Palestine refugees and displaced people who were displaced from the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and Gaza by the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. The camp, which is the largest in Jordan, lies about 20 kilometres north of Amman.

The Baqa’a camp has been a temporary shelter since 1968, housing more than 100,000 displaced persons from the West Bank and Gaza during the 1967 Arab-Israeli war.  The camp has now been there longer than most of its residents and multiple generations know life only in the camp.  The oversight organization for the camp is the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA).  There are 9 additional refugees camps in Jordan, all trying to obtain the scant resources that are available.

With more than 132,000 residents, poverty and high unemployment are major challenges facing the residents of Baqa’a.   46% of Palestinian refugees in the camp don’t have health insurance and medical care is expensive without insurance.  The camp has the third highest level of poverty of the ten camps in Jordan with 32 percent reportedly having an income below the national poverty line.  Baqa’a camp is also ranked second highest of the ten camps in unemployment, with 17 per cent of refugees living in the camp unemployed.

Sustainability:  Your team will participate in setting up a community garden at the Orphan Welfare Association School within the camp.  The garden will provide a sustainable source of food for those who participate in the project.  This project will be completed in partnership with the Camp, the School, and local residents. Food insecurity is one of the most serious problems in the camp, as is meaningful work.

About GFR: GFR’s main focus is to provide excellent medical, dental, optical, and mom/baby care in the countries were we work and to provide community health education and tools for families to keep them healthier.  At the same time, we provide professional education for local community health care workers and local health volunteers.  GFR has a long history of building and repairing schools, clinics, and community centers in areas where we provide care, as well as placing permanent drinking water treatment facilities in communities that have great need.  To date, GFR has completed the installation of  8 permanent water purification systems (filtering up to 12,000 gallons per day) in India, Uganda, and Zambia and have built or refurbished 6 schools, community centers, and orphanages. In 2025, will install 2 additional permanent filtration systems and build a community center in Peru.  We also ensure, through local monitoring, the continuing operation of these facilities and provide training as necessary.

Arrivals and Departures for the Medical Team: Please arrive in Amman, Jordan (airport code AMM) on or before Nov. 1, 2025.  Your hotel and meals on Nov. 1 are on your own.   The official start to the GFR trip is the morning of November 2 with transportation to the clinic site from the host hotel.  Your hotel, breakfast and lunch are covered from Nov. 2 to Nov. 9.   Your GFR trip officially ends on the morning of November 9, 2025 with transportation to Amman.  Please see the “after the trip” section for more information on staying longer in Amman and Jordan.

What’s Included: This trip includes lodging, transportation, translators, water, breakfast, and lunch within the official dates of the trip.  Dinners are on your own with a few exceptions. Most clinic supplies and any special projects are covered by GFR. In 2025, we are adding a $100 per person fee to cover the increased cost of medications and supplies.

What’s Not Included: Your international airfare, snacks and drinks other than water, personal vaccines, and pre/post trip travel costs and expenses, trip insurance, professional malpractice insurance if desired, transportation to and from the airport (appx $10/person), and any free day or post- trip adventures you wish to engage in while in Africa.

Personal Medical Equipment: You are responsible for bringing your own clinical gear – BP cuff, stethoscope, pulse oximeter, and any other supplies you use in general patient care for your specialty (think otoscope, ophthalmoscope, etc).  GFR will supply a doppler, nebulizer and supplies, ultrasound (on most trips), and wound care.

Important Information about this trip:   The weather will be 60s in the daytime and 40’s at night.  Your hotel has air-conditioning and mosquito nets, hot water, and ensuite bathrooms.  Rooms are shared unless a single room is available and requested at additional cost.  Please be prepared for rain as the rainy season is just ending.  You may be walking on uneven ground during clinic.  Please look at the CDC guidelines to make your personal decisions about vaccines and other health precautions.  

How is your cost calculated?: At Global First Responder we strive to keep your costs low and our quality high.   We value your participation and willingness to volunteer your time and expertise. Everyone at Global First Responder is also a volunteer, donating their time to administrative tasks and paying their own way to participate in medical and construction missions around the world and at home.  The fee you pay covers the actual cost of your expenses in country including lodging, transportation, meals, and translator fees and expenses. In 2025, we are adding a $100 general fee to each volunteer cover the increased costs of medications and supplies so that we can continue to provide excellent care for our patients.   At GFR, no one is paid a salary and everyone is a passionate volunteer, doing our part to help drive our mission of “One Global World, One Global Family”.

Cost: The cost of this trip is approximately $850.00 per person plus airfare.  You are responsible for purchasing airfare that meets the required arrival and departure times.  We always suggest giving yourself extra time for delayed or cancelled flights and that you purchase trip insurance from a reputable carrier.  This trip is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.  You or your donors will receive a tax receipt for your donation to GFR.

After the trip:  There is so much to do in Jordan that it is hard for us to choose what to highlight for you!  Consider spending 1 or 2 days in Petra, a 3.5 hour drive from Amman and Wadi Rum, a little further south.   There are many famous sites along the way including St. George’s Church and Kerak Castle.  Spend a few days in Amman!  It is beautiful and friendly city with wonderful souks and marketplaces, many beautiful and historical mosques, gorgeous views, and fun people watching.  If you are a beach-goer, don’t forget the Red Sea!  The beaches are spectacular and Aqaba is a beautiful town.  Are you a diver?   You just need to go a few meters off shore to dive in Aqaba!

 

Click here to apply for the waitlist:  I want to join the Global First Responder team in the Baqa’a Refugee Camp, Jordan!                                                                                                     

If this is your first time applying in our application system, please create a login and password.  You may use this login and password for all future trips you apply for (and we hope to see you on LOTS of GFR trips!!)

PROPOSED Itinerary: 

Pre-trip November 1, 2025:   Plan to arrive in Amman, Jordan on or before November 1.   Tonight is “on your own” – please get your own transport from the airport and make your own hotel reservations (you will know the host hotel well in advance).  Hotel and meals are on your own today.    This is a great day to rest up from your long flight and if you arrive early, see a little of Amman.The official start date of the trip is Nov. 2 with an early transport from Amman to Baqa’a Refugee Camp by road.

Sunday, November 2, 2025: Today is the official start date of the trip.  Please meet at the host hotel (we will let you know the name of the hotel) ready for a 90 minute drive to the area where the team will work.  We will take some time to meet, get organized and look around the area today.  Hotel, lunch, and dinner are included in your team fee today.

Monday/Tuesday, November 3-4, 2025:   Your team will be holding full day medical camps.

Wednesday, November 5, 2025: Today is a 1/2 day of clinic for the entire team followed by a 1/2 day of teaching for local medical staff and camp residents for those who want to teach.  If you are not teaching, the team will provide screenings for hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic diseases and focused health education for small groups in the afternoon, as well as sick patient care.

Thursday, November 6, 2025:  Your team will have a full day medical camp.

Friday, November 7, 2025: Friday is the Sabbath day in Jordan and you have a free day today.  We are working on a side-trip to visit a wonderful Crusades-era church but the day is on your own to plan.  The cost of any activities (including a team generated activity) is on your own.  There will be a team dinner tonight!

Saturday, November 8, 2025:  Today is the last day of medical camps. After we break down camp we will drive back to Amman where the GFR trip will officially end.  Your hotel and dinner are on your own upon arrival in Amman.  Please make your own arrangements.  We hope that many of you will stay longer to visit Petra and other historical sites in the surrounding area.  Thank you for joining GFR in Jordan!  And don’t forget – Amman is an excellent jump off point to many more destinations!