“In my heart I still love CVT. Everyone here left a mark engraved in my heart with light and love,” said a former client who came to CVT’s office in Jordan for care after fleeing violence and persecution in his home country, Iraq. Like the tens of thousands of survivors of torture who walked through the doors of the Jordan clinics, he found his way to CVT in Amman, where he was treated with respect, expertise and kindness. He said he began to feel like he was a human being again.

That feeling, described by so many former clients, is part of the legacy of care in Jordan, CVT’s longest-running international program. Bringing rehabilitative care to survivors of torture since 2008, the Jordan team built a thriving center of healing that was recognized and respected throughout Amman.

In my heart I still love CVT. Everyone here left a mark engraved in my heart with light and love.”

-Former client from Iraq, seen at CVT Jordan

In spite of the proven effectiveness and measurable results of the program’s work, the U.S. government pulled its funding for the program in January, 2025, without warning, without advance notice. CVT clinicians were forced to tell clients that their care programs were being cancelled. Some clients shared their disbelief, asking, “What will happen to us now? Who will listen to us if not you?”

The abrupt closure was especially painful because the need for support for survivors in the region is so great. Over its 17 years of operation, the CVT Jordan clinics extended care to an average of nearly 5,000 clients plus family members every year. In the early years, most clients were refugees from Iraq, but as conflicts erupted in nearby Syria, thousands of refugees fled into Jordan. Many found their way to CVT. Later, refugees from additional countries including Sudan, Eritrea, Yemen, Somalia and more also came to CVT for care.

Some clients shared their disbelief, asking, “What will happen to us now? Who will listen to us if not you?”

“CVT’s program in Jordan was recognized throughout the region for excellence and integrity,” said Neal Porter, CVT director of international services. “This strong reputation paved the way for growth and sustainability over the years, allowing more and more survivors to find healing.”

There were several key facets of CVT Jordan’s work which set it apart: programs designed specifically for children; a consistent interdisciplinary approach to healing; and commitment to meaningful community outreach and training. All these elements worked together to ensure that each person who came though our doors in Jordan was able to receive mental health counseling, physiotherapy, social work services and professional care for children, all coordinated together.

CVT’s program in Jordan was recognized throughout the region for excellence and integrity.”

-Neal Porter, CVT director of international services

In addition, close connections and partnerships were formed with area universities, nongovernmental organizations, agencies and care providers, creating a community focused on effective care and strategies for reaching people in need.

“Under the leadership of Osama Ahmad Al-Mohammad, CVT Jordan country director, the program built up expertise, connections and resilience within the community. He brought his vision for quality humanitarian care to all aspects of operations and outreach,” said Neal. “Osama led with steady and compassionate leadership through countless accomplishments as well as many, and widely varying, challenges.”

CVT’s program in Jordan was foundational to much of the international work that came in the years that followed in other parts of the world. CVT teams in Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda shared learning across multiple disciplines, including counseling, physiotherapy, social work and research, with cross-program trainings and site visits.

“I am so very proud of the work of the Jordan team and of the contributions of Leslie Tou, program manager for Jordan,” said Neal. “Leslie brought such breadth of knowledge in the humanitarian space together with her innovative, thoughtful, and caring management perspective. The program accomplished efficient and highly effective growth because of her dedication.”

I started life as a human being over again.”

-Former client, seen at CVT Jordan

The team worked to refer as many clients as possible during the shut-down phase of the program, and heard from so many about the life-changing and, very often, life-saving, work of CVT. “After CVT I met people, it gave me hope for a future,” CVT’s former Iraqi client said. “I started life as a human being over again.”