Priyanka Chopra meets Syrian refugees in Jordan; receives criticism from fellow Indian

Bollywood star Priyanka Chopra is visiting Syrian refugees in Jordan and has urged the world to help the war affected community through  United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef).

Her interaction with the children and teenagers among the refugees is being appreciated the world over but one Indian criticised her work.

First things first, here are some of the most moving experiences that she shared with her fans and followers.

A class full of future doctors, engineers, police officers, teachers. What breaks my heart is they can’t even access proper schools as refugee kids… how will they access higher education?? These hopes and dreams.. where do they stand in the reality of their world? The government schools in Jordan have added evening classes and 200 schools to accommodate the growing number of Syrian children which is approximately 120000 children..But it’s never enough. The world needs to help. We need to help. PLS GO TO www.unicef.org and DONATE whatever you can… let’s make this a collective #MissionForChildren #ChildrenUprooted #PCInJordan #ChildrenOfSyria @unicef

A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Sep 10, 2017 at 2:19am PDT

VISITING A GOVERNMENT SCHOOL EDUCATING REFUGEES

“A class full of future doctors, engineers, police officers, teachers. What breaks my heart is they can’t even access proper schools as refugee kids… how will they access higher education?? These hopes and dreams.. where do they stand in the reality of their world? The government schools in Jordan have added evening classes and 200 schools to accommodate the growing number of Syrian children which is approximately 120000 children..But it’s never enough. The world needs to help. We need to help,” wrote Priyanka Chopra.

Hours ago, she shared another video while spending her day with a community hosting the refugees.

“Today was very emotional. As we go about our daily privileged lives, it’s hard to imagine that everything can be taken from you in an moment. Today we spent the day in a host community meeting Syrian refugee families (like this one) so desperately seeking a safe place of normalcy for their families. More than 80% of the Syrian refugees in Jordan live outside refugee camps in cities, urban centers and farming villages (host communities.) Amman hosts the largest number of Syrian refugees, about 180,000 people. Refugee families in host communities have limited livelihood opportunities, and after 6 years, have depleted their savings and borrowed money from everywhere to feed and support their families,” wrote the Quantico actress.

Today was very emotional. As we go about our daily privileged lives, it’s hard to imagine that everything can be taken from you in an moment. Today we spent the day in a host community meeting Syrian refugee families (like this one) so desperately seeking a safe place of normalcy for their families. More than 80% of the Syrian refugees in Jordan live outside refugee camps in cities, urban centers and farming villages (host communities.) Amman hosts the largest number of Syrian refugees, about 180,000 people. Refugee families in host communities have limited livelihood opportunities, and after 6 years, have depleted their savings and borrowed money from everywhere to feed and support their families. @unicef #ChildrenUprooted #TheyAreUs

A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Sep 10, 2017 at 12:52pm PDT

MEETING TEENAGERS IN A REFUGEE CAMP

“These girls don’t have much at all, but yet Seba and Omaima took their bracelet and ring off to give me so I will always remember them. I’ll always remember you…I promise. It’s kids like this that will build a better world tomorrow”

Say hello to Omaima 16, Seba 17, Shaimaa 14, Hanin 15, Maria 15, Wafa 13, Ayat 16, and Maram 15. These are 16-17 yr olds in a school in the Za’atari Refugee Camp. Omaima couldn’t carry much when she and her family fled Syria…so she decided to carry soil and rocks from her garden to remember her country. Seba said they have all prepared themselves for when they go back to Syria after the war is over…knowing it will be almost unrecognizable. That’s the reason they go to school everyday, so that they can rebuild Syria again. Their determination for education, however much they can get, is incredible and truly overwhelming. These girls don’t have much at all, but yet Seba and Omaima took their bracelet and ring off to give me so I will always remember them. I’ll always remember you…I promise. It’s kids like this that will build a better world tomorrow. Please swipe left for more. @unicef #TheyAreUs #ChildrenUprooted #pcinjordan🇯🇴

A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Sep 11, 2017 at 7:47am PDT

“This is Ammar(5), Ayat(8), Sulaiman (5 months) Wardshan(9) and they have an elder brother Saleh(10) who works at a grocery store to help supplement the family income, for only 2 Jordanian Dinar (that’s less than $3 USD.) Their father is a day laborer. Sulaiman needs a second surgery because he has a clot in his nose. The family moved from Syria to Jordan five years ago”

This is Ammar(5), Ayat(8), Sulaiman (5 months) Wardshan(9) and they have an elder brother Saleh(10) who works at a grocery store to help supplement the family income, for only 2 Jordanian Dinar (that’s less than $3 USD.) Their father is a day laborer. Sulaiman needs a 2nd surgery because he has a clot in his nose. The family moved from Syria to Jordan 5 years ago. When I asked their mother what would be her wish…considering the war hasn’t ended, she said “if we can’t go home all I want is for my kids to get an education so they can fend for themselves when they are older and help rebuild Syria. We are blessed, we have enough to survive…others have much less.” They didn’t even have furniture in their home. The largesse of heart and compassion she had through her tears moved me to pieces. PLS GO TO www.unicef.org and DONATE whatever you can… let’s make this a collective #MissionForChildren #ChildrenUprooted #PCInJordan #ChildrenOfSyria @unicef

A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Sep 10, 2017 at 6:20am PDT

TEACHING FADI TO WRITE HIS NAME IN ENGLISH

Fadi. Seven years old. Was so excited that he knew how to write his name in English but wrote it left to right because he knew arabic. It was very cute so we learnt how to write his name in English and he taught me to write my name in Arabic. #MissionForChildren #ChildrenUprooted #PCInJordan #ChildrenOfSyria @unicef

A post shared by Priyanka Chopra (@priyankachopra) on Sep 10, 2017 at 1:21am PDT

Meeting an artist

This is Eman. She is an artist… #MissionForChildren #ChildrenUprooted#PCInJordan#ChildrenOfSyria @UNICEF https://t.co/onyKcyaCwh pic.twitter.com/RSBRUAVYKi

— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) September 10, 2017

 

CRITICISM AND EPIC RESPONSE

An Indian troll criticised her for overlooking India’s rural areas where “malnourished kids are waiting for food”.

I would request @priyankachopra that do visit rural areas of India where malnourished kids waiting for food. #MissionForChildren https://t.co/VTKdrRBUkr

— Ravindra Gautam (@RavindraGautam_) September 10, 2017

To which Priyanka’s response was epic!

Ive worked w/ @UNICEFIndia for 12 yrs&visited many such places. What have u done @RavindraGautam_ ?Y is 1 childs prob less imp than another? https://t.co/GaxeKyXDrK

— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) September 10, 2017

Majority of Twitterati supported her.

Guru
Puri dunia hi ek ghar hai
Or bacche toh bacche hi hotte hai

— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryoontop) September 10, 2017

I haven’t heard of another Unicef ambassador in India doing the work you did and you still get attacked when you go to places outhouse India

— aly🌻 (@IAlyazya_) September 10, 2017