The Queen Rania Family and Child Center (QRFCC) of the Jordan River Foundation (JRF): A Case Study of Abuse Prevention through Social & Emotional Education By: Maya Chivi Research question: How can prevention programs overcome challenges to community involvement in areas where children and youth: 1) are victims of abuse and 2) live in environments in which such maltreatment is prevalent? Making Equal Rights Real/Vers la pleine réalisation de l'égalité des droits May 1, 2010 McGill University

Jordan Population: 70% under age of 30; 60% under age of 24 Jordanians, Palestinians, Palestinian and Iraqi refugees, Circassians Almost half of Jordan’s children face abuse in their homes, schools, and communities* In 2009, 4 children died as a result of abuse; none of whom were over the age of 5* Case study research was conducted in Jabal Al Nasr, located in Eastern Amman *Reference: JRF (2004). Have your say: Child abuse. Retrieved March 2009, from

Methodology Data collected in June, July, and August 2009 Conducted 54 semi-structured interviews with workshop trainers, program directors, and participants Observed child, youth, and adult programs Collected field notes *Girls with puppets their mothers created*Youth Summer Leadership Program volunteers at the QRFCC’s puppet-making workshop for women

Issues Faced by Jabal Al Nasr’s Children and Youth In the Community: Poor family communication Poor marital relations Neglect & all types of abuse at home Kidnappings Road accidents Child labour Street children and youth High rates of unemployment Dependency on drugs, glue sniffing, & alcohol Lack of playgrounds In Schools: Bullying Sexual harassment Abuse between students & between teachers & students Use of beating sticks Overpopulated classrooms (over 40 children) Two shifts of schools to accommodate the number of students Schools are in very poor conditions * Youth of Tomorrow Committee members in the playground they won funding to renovate in a national contest

Issues Faced by Jabal Al Nasr’s Girls Not allowed to participate in physical activities Not allowed to leave the house unaccompanied Honour killings as a result of sexual abuse Early school dropouts Early marriages * Girls with puppets their mothers created at the QRFCC’s puppet-making workshop for women

The QRFCC & the Jabal Al Nasr Community Population of over 250,000 people Approximately 100 schools The QRFCC: Established in 2005 to focus on child and youth abuse prevention Only non-religious community center Funded by donors; Free to community members Working to realize children and youth’s rights to: Safety and security Health Care and nurture Mental and body integrity Protection from abuse *Example of photo used during children and youth’s workshops to increase emotional intelligence

The QRFCC’s Growth Dar Al Aman (“Safe House”) : Child and Youth Abuse Intervention 2000 The QRFCC: Child and Youth Abuse Prevention 2005 Children: Boys and Girls Youth Youth Volunteer Leadership Program Youth of Tomorrow Committee Women: Training Center Establishment of the Gym: For Women and Girls Fathers: Training Center Community Leaders Safe Schools Project Directors Students Teachers This growth chart represents JRF’s initial work in abuse intervention under the Child Safety Program to next begin to work on abuse prevention through the establishment of the QRFCC and it’s sub-units

The QRFCC’s Units Local Community Center Interactive Mediums Unit Workshops (Arts in child safety, drama, IT lab, interactive library, and fit for life {for women and girls only}) Children, Youth, Mothers Youth Programs Training Center Mothers, Fathers Community Leaders Safe Schools Project Children & Youth’s Social & Emotional Development

The QRFCC: Coming Full Circle ChildrenYouth Women and Mothers Men and Fathers Community Leaders Schools This graph shows how the QRFCC’s work involves and engages all members of the community

The QRFCC: Impact in the Community The center’s strategy focuses on a slow growth into the community versus a shift in target group focus The center’s adopted model covers a full spectrum of social needs Affects individuals in two stages: Causes changes in attitudes and behaviours which then causes active responses Reaches indirect beneficiaries by empowering those around them (e.g.: women who cannot leave their homes). * Youth of Tomorrow Committee members in the playground they won funding to renovate in a national contest

The QRFCC’s Challenges Seen as “foreign” by local community members Cultural taboos and gender stereotyping continues to discourage participation Lack of program continuity with former participants Changing municipality and government officials Tension between a fast growth to meet the community’s needs and a focus on slow community change * The playground’s surrounding walls at the time the research was conducted

Lessons Learned The QRFCC’s successes are the result of: Their flexibility and adaptability in response to the community’s needs Their targeting of the social population and community issues versus focusing on individual problems Their adopted model covers a full spectrum of social needs Grew to cover additional target groups versus a shift in focus *Youth Summer Leadership Program volunteers playing games aimed at team building and East and West youth integration

Discussion What will the QRFCC’s long term impact on the individual level be? What will the overall impact be in the community as a whole? Target: social Impact: Individual Result: Community? *Youth Summer Leadership Program volunteers playing games aimed at team building and East and West youth integration

*A QRFCC staff member hanging paintings created after the death of two brothers as a result of child abuse (both were under the age of 5)

*Youth explaining their drawing on their imagined community with the researcher

Recent photos of the Youth of Tomorrow Committee’s renovations in the local park

Recent photos of the Youth of Tomorrow Committee’s renovations on the local park