To this end, a visible role for women in society is supported by strengthening their self-esteem and self-confidence through the acquisition of basic life skills. The programme since 2023 primarily targets women from rural regions in the Northern Jordan Valley (governorates of Irbid and Jerash). These regions are characterised by a low level of academic education, particularly regarding higher education, poverty, limited employment opportunities, difficulties in starting a business and the widespread phenomenon of early marriage. The programme serves as a key social support for these communities, with a focus on empowering women to improve their living conditions and thus have a positive impact on their families and the wider community.
#StrongWomen
Women in Dialogue
In 2024 a tailor-made ten-day workshop was held for seven groups in different areas (namely Tal Al-Arbaeen, Al-Harawieh, Al-Kraimeh, Al-Jasoura, Isak Muad bin Jabal, and Al-Mashari’a).
The groups consisted of 20 women between the ages of 18 and 50 from diverse backgrounds. The content particularly addresses awareness and knowledge gaps that significantly affect the lives of the inhabitants of the Northern Jordan Valley. These are: General hygiene, personal skills (effective communication, positive thinking, time management), family health, child development, healthy environment for healthy communities and family well-being (empowering women to learn their rights under the Personal Status Law). Another aim is to create a safe space in which women can exchange ideas and express themselves, as they often have no opportunity to do so in their daily lives.
The trainers emphasised that the participants learned very quickly and improved their skills. Each of the presented topics contributed significantly to their knowledge, skills and increasing their self-esteem, which had a clear impact on relations with their families. Without exception the women also acknowledged that their newly acquired knowledge would not stop at personal level but expressed a strong desire to transfer this knowledge to the people they interact with.
The feedback for the workshops was consistently positive across all groups. 100% of the women rated the content and implementation of the training sessions as ‘excellent’ and ‘very good’.
In their individual feedback, they highlighted the improvement in their relationships, especially with their husbands and children. But also, the newly won self-worth and positivity are among the most stressed values acquired during the workshops. One participant even found the self-confidence to successfully apply for a job through the programme.
The women's social environment, especially their husbands, have also expressed gratitude for the programme and the changes in their wives' self-perception and therefore the improvement for their family life. Some men have even requested the conception of similar workshops targeting them.