Annie Samhouri and Dr. Ralph Brown, Sociology

Jordan is considered one of the most progressive Arab states, yet only a handful of Jordan-specific research has been performed that address pertinent topics related to government programs that assist female victims of domestic violence. My original research project sought to identify the demographics of women that seek assistance at Dar Al-Wefaq battered women’s shelter. Identifying the demographics of beneficiaries would enable the Jordanian Ministry of Social Development to strengthen existing programs and better meet the needs of those that seek assistance at Dar Al-Wefaq. Using Dar Al-Wefaq as a case study, I initially planned to statistically analyze demographics such as age, educational achievement, socioeconomic status and hometown to discern common trends among beneficiaries and identify at-risk neighborhoods and regions.

While working closely with the monitoring and evaluation assistant to Minister Hala B. Lattouf of Social Development, Rasha Qudisat, I tailored my research project to meet the long term aims of the Ministry as well as the battered women’s shelter. Upon receiving approval from the Ministry of Social Development, I learned that the data on which my research was intimately contingent upon was unobtainable. I revised my research project to serve as a needs assessment for Dar Al-Wefaq battered women’s shelter. Using a needs assessment, I addressed the strengths and weaknesses of existing auxiliary services available to the beneficiaries and provide realistic recommendations that can enhance and strengthen these services. After identifying the current status of Dar Al-Wefaq, I outlined potential programs, partners and internship opportunities that will build upon existing efforts and utilize extant capital.

Using basic data provided by the director of the women’s shelter, I gathered additional data by interviewing the director of Dar Al-Wefaq, identifying existing relationships with non-governemental organizations and intergovernmental organizations that provide services to the center and researching non-governmental organizations that could serve as potential partners to augment existing resources and programs at the women’s shelter and provide capacity building. I also made an inventory of the resources available to the beneficiaries and identified the existing programs. In addition to referring to the current Brigham Young University intern for additional details regarding the use of the resources at the women’s shelter, I pulled from my experience while serving as an intern at Dar Al-Wefaq in 2009.

The facilities and staff at Dar Al-Wefaq provide battered women and their children with a clean and safe environment wherein beneficiaries can receive services to address domestic violence and other related issues. The administration at Dar Al-Wefaq has taken commendable strides to improve the quality and breadth of services available to its beneficiaries, and has forged meaningful working relationships with several non-governmental organizations to provide beneficiaries with additional services that are relevant to the needs of the occupants. Some of the services that Dar Al-Wefaq offers include: advocacy, counseling, welfare and legal assistance.

Since its establishment in 2007, Dar Al-Wefaq has experienced tremendous growth. In the past three years the center has provided services to 299 beneficiaries in 2007, 501 in 2008, and 806 in 2009. The current capacity of the facility is 35 to 50 women with 36 accompanying children. As the number of Dar Al-Wefaq beneficiaries continues to swell, the administration at the center recognizes an increasing need to develop structured programs in a cost-effective way that utilizes existing resources, increase partnerships with non-governmental organizations, and expand the joint Brigham Young University and University of Utah internship program. Orchestrating these programs and relationships will enable Dar Al-Wefaq to further its mission by providing specialized classes that promote healthy living, develop life skills and increase income-generating opportunities while beneficiaries seek assistance from abuse.

Dar Al-Wefaq’s beneficiaries have access to an exercise room with basic equipment, a sewing machine and loom, computers, a small library, and a salon, yet the women are usually idle and bored. They pass the time by watching television, interacting with each other and smoking. Unfortunately, the books in the library are often stolen or ripped and most of the computers have been broken by the beneficiaries because there is inadequate supervision or instruction. Other resources remain unused because there is a lack of technical knowledge necessary to properly utilize the equipment. The available resources are not effectively meeting the needs of the women because the center lacks the know-how necessary to mobilize the resources and organize classes and workshops for the beneficiaries. To ameliorate the gap between employee capacities and facility resources, the administration must provide capacity-building for floor supervisors and expand the center’s NGO network by establishing new partnerships.

Although Dar Al-Wefaq’s primary function is to provide counseling, advocacy, legal assistance and physical assistance to its clientele, developing auxiliary programs is critical to holistically addressing abuse. It is also increasingly important to institute structured programs to cope with the changing dynamics as Dar Al-Wefaq grows. Dar Al-Wefaq has the resources and competent staff members required to develop meaningful classes, but the floor supervisors must undergo capacity-building so that they can facilitate and teach classes. By increasing its outreach to nongovernmental networks and expanding the internship program, the facility can recruit the expertise necessary to organize and develop programs that will enrich the beneficiaries as they develop their talents and skills. Thus, while promoting healthy living, increasing literacy and developing vocational skills, Dar Al-Wefaq will also optimize the use of existing resources and capital.

My findings and recommendations were submitted to Rasha Qudisat, the monitoring and evaluation advisor to Minister Hala B. Lattouf of the Jordanian Ministry of Social Development. This research will also be integrated into the international development internship opportunities offered by Brigham Young University students as Professor Ralph Brown expands the program