We are proud to declare that the Safe Room has assisted more than 60 girls since 2009 and was successful in returning ten dropouts to school again," "corporal punishment have dropped down significantly, and parents are showing more collaboration with our project.
"I never thought that this experience will change me into a complete different person.
"Inside us is a new feeling that we haven’t experienced before, the feeling of true citizenship and responsibility towards ourselves and our community”
"When Her Majesty’s visited us to share our experience, her words motivated us; I will never forget it when she said we rephrased the meaning of the word “Citizen” through our work.
"We were determined to find the space in our compounded school building, and with humble resources we agreed to renovate the old storage.
"The Safe Room is a haven for distressed girls whom we have longed to assist for the past years," "in this space, students can speak freely and confidentially about their deepest pains and fears, seek guidance, and receive support.
"My experience with JRF changed me, I realize now that the prize is bigger than money; it is great friends and the feeling of pride every time I pass by a school or a street that we helped to change.
"I want to be popular like other girls in my class”, she complains “why is this happening to me?
"I felt like a prisoner, today I accept my daughter’s illness, I know how to deal with her, before I used to deal with her illness instead.”
"I was empowered by Jordan River Foundation’s training and worked hard to change, leading my father to change too”
"My dream is to start my own business one day soon.
"I would have had no future if it wasn’t for the program and the support of the Jordan River Foundation.
"“My father encourages me to continue my education after he witnessed my success; I am a changed woman. Today I am a real member in the family; participate in decision making equal to my brothers and full of belief that in order to make a change, you should change from within yourself first.
"Like many, I was occupied with the details of my own daily life. I walked in the neighborhood on a daily basis, it was impossible to avoid the scattered garbage or twisting my ankle when walking over a hidden hole; yet I did nothing, we did nothing to change. It was always easier to blame the authorities. All of this changed once we enrolled in the JRF’s program which taught us the spirit in working as a team.
"Both skills and experience that I acquired from the center made me feel that I have a message to share with other women; my work as an educator is just a small token to show my gratitude.
"The beacon that guides the residents towards one goal for the benefit of all.
"I lived my childhood in KSA, I had no idea what the word “volunteer” meant until I became one.
"I continuously talk to my peers and encourage them to enroll in the centers various programs and activities. At school, I stood out in my class as I became more confident and empowered; now I want my younger brothers to join the center so they get the same opportunity I did.
"Through JRF's training programs, Madeline and I are able to identify cases of abuse in school, assist girls through creative and indirect methodologies such as writing and drawing and cooperate with the Family Protection Department in Aqaba when needed.
"It was a daunting path towards an old and dark storage room, we never imagined that this same space could become a bright, safe and attractive room, it has actually become our favorite spot in the school.
"The smile we draw on the innocent faces of these young girls is the source of our strong-will and determination to continue and expand the work we have started", thank you JRF.
"My life has changed completely.
"I would have never imagined meeting Her Majesty one day, but when she visited Wadi Araba, I realized that we have achieved something to be proud of.
"My work with JRF and in the complex enriched my experience and my university studies; it is truly the ultimate prize.
"I was shy and had few friends; today I am blessed with many friends within my community.
"We are in a much better place; our voices are heard by authorities after a long time of silence, we know how to deal with challenges and transform them into opportunities.
"Working with JRF, I discovered there are no limits to ambition. Working with youth, inspired me even more to develop myself personally so I enrolled in University; something I never thought was possible.
"I come from an area of small farmers who can barely sell their produce to the local market and with the suppressed prices during the high season, the farmers are content if they just break-even… a cold storage and a food processing unit was a dream for us but we never thought that it can become reality.
"The desert of Wadi Araba became a green paradise producing only the best, and our community divided one day, is now working together under Qaa Al-Se’diyeen Association.
"I liked to practice what I learned at home, and I had no idea that my brothers and sisters were learning too.
"The training I received on Basic life Skills, Leadership Skills and volunteering have enriched my teen years and developed my personality.
"My parents, who opposed the idea at the beginning, recognize the new me and encouraged my twin brother to join.
"I knew that this project can change my life... I met many people and have more self-confidence.
"I felt so good after that call” said the counselor who spoke to Suha and her mother, “it is live proof that doing what we do can have a real impact on someone’s life. Suha is not alone in her struggle anymore, we made that happen
"JRF has transformed me into a Super Citizen
"In University, am not Abu Sakher or the head of an association, am just a regular student and my daughter’s colleague.
"I am so grateful for your help, I have talked to my mother about what I am experiencing and she has been very supportive since
"I had no idea Suha was going through such a hard time. I could see there was something wrong, but I didn’t know what to do about it. Thank you for helping us
"I feel empowered as I became one of two decision makers in my house. I now help my husband around the house, I learned how to drive and bought my first car after three years of work. My husband and I bought a land and a house and we are saving for the education of our three children.
"
Established in the year 2000, DAA is a temporary therapeutic center that provides protection for child victims of abuse. It accommodates up to 40 children from infancy to early adolescence. The children receive comprehensive and integrated services: care, academic, medical, and psychosocial. Children remain in the center until a safe placement is identified within their nuclear or extended families, or in cases where this is not possible, the children are transferred to a long-term care home.
Daily Care Services:
Every (6-8) children at Dar Al Aman reside in an apartment with one caregiver. The caregivers are responsible for creating a safe and loving environment for the children; this idea of a “safe home” is new to many of our children. It is through consistent and reliable care that the children begin to trust their surroundings, hence setting the child on the path towards healing.
The caregivers attend to the children’s physical needs (nutrition, hygiene, health, etc), their intellectual needs (activities, stimulation, etc), their social needs (relationships, social rules, etc) and their emotional needs (love, acceptance, etc). Children are given the opportunity to “catch up” on their development and reconstruct their perception of the world in a safe and nurturing environment.
At Dar Al Aman, we are eager to achieve a healthy balance for the children between structure and flexibility. We believe that children who come from abusive and often chaotic homes need structure and predictability, while maintaining enough flexibility for children’s individual needs and preferences to be considered.
Academic Services:
Children in abusive homes are likely to fall behind academically and often face educational neglect or even schooling disruption. At Dar Al Aman, we aim at reintegrating the child into the school community, thus retrieving a sense of “normalcy” to their lives. Upon entering Dar Al Aman, children are assessed to determine their achievement level and accordingly a suitable school is identified. Children usually join a nearby school from within the public school system, but when a child has any specific or special needs, then schools or even centers from the private sector are considered. After school, the caregivers follow-up with the children on their school-work, while teacher/s provide one-on-one and small group support to children in the areas that require special attention. Moreover, children who have never been to school or who have been out of school for years are home-schooled.
In addition to school-aged children, children under six years old attend an early childhood development program within Dar Al Aman. The program is tailored to provide these children with developmentally appropriate activities that not only prepare them for school, but more importantly supports their social and emotional development, which is considered an integral part of their rehabilitation.
While many children who stay at Dar Al Aman are academically behind their counterparts, we strive to support them in reaching their academic potential and consequently restoring their self confidence and value. The reintegration of children into the school system is another key accomplishment for these children as they will be able to join a school smoothly in their future placement.
Medical Services:
All children who come to Dar Al Aman require medical attention, be it to address their malnutrition, physical wounds, developmental stunting, or in more severe cases fractures and deformations. An in-home nurse monitors the children’s health on a daily basis, and children who need primary health care visit the local health center. Nevertheless, some children require more advanced care due to the abuse they have endured, and these children are treated at hospitals and special clinics. Examples include plastic surgery (to remedy signs of physical abuse such as burns, nose restructuring, scars, fractures, lip injuries) physiotherapy, and teeth implants. JRF partners with a number of public and private health clinics and hospitals aiming to provide the children with quality medical services.
Psychosocial Services:
All children at Dar Al Aman receive counseling and therapy as needed. Our team comprises of counselors and psychologists who offer interventions to children in both individual and group format; in doing so, the team utilizes creative therapy tools and techniques such as art and play therapy. In more severe cases were the children are displaying severe symptoms and signs of psychological/ mental disorders, a psychiatrist is consulted.
Parallel to this process, psychosocial services are provided to the children’s families. JRF strongly believes that a child’s natural place is within a family, thus we try our best to secure that for all the children who enter Dar Al Aman. Our psychosocial counselors conduct an assessment which includes the direct and extended family members of the child. Once a suitable and willing family is identified, the counselors construct an intervention plan with the family leading up to the integration of the child with the family; the rehabilitation of the identified family in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for the child could range from a few months up to a couple of years. If it was not possible to find a suitable placement for the child from within the family, then as a last resort the children are transferred to a long-term care center. All children who leave Dar Al Aman are supervised in their new placement for at least one year.
