UN Women's launches Training Workshop to Strengthen the Capacity of Social Worker to create "Safe Spaces" for Women in Host Communities

Irbid, March 20, 2016: On 16 March 2016, UN Women Jordan launched a series of trainings in the Governorates of Irbid and Zarqa to build the capacity of local NGOs’ social workers to create safe spaces of psychological support for Jordanian and Syrian women and girls. The training program, which saw 20 participants awarded, is part of the Japanese – funded Social Cohesion Program, that aims to provide women and girls with access to protection and social services in the Zarqa and Irbid governorates.

Through interactive activities, experts helped participants analyzing the current situation in their communities from an administrative, organizational, technical and procedural point of view. Participants were trained on how to better support vulnerable groups and to provide psychological support to women and girls through the Family and Childhood Society in Irbid as well the Family Guidance and Awareness Center in Zarqa. A safe space will be also created at the Zarqa-based Khawala Bint Al-Azwar Society. Additionally, a guidance hall will be established at the Ramtha Charitable Society in Al-Ramtha, fully equipped to run preventative programs aimed at supporting women and girls.

Commenting on the importance of training, Ms. Abeer Sleih, the manager of Khawla Bin Al-Azwar Society, affirmed "This type of training program provides qualitative benefits for our social workers, honing the skills of trainees in a manner that strengthens their abilities to manage the cases they follow."

The head of the Family and Childhood Society in Irbid Governorate, Kazem Al-Kafiri, also affirmed "The training enables us to evaluate the relationship between the Jordanian woman and the Syrian woman, and helps us understanding their specific needs, empowering social workers to provide dedicated assistance."

Domestic and social violence is one of the most significant challenges encountered by case managers and therefore remain a top priority area of intervention. Deputy General Manager of Aya for Consultancy and Development, Safinaz Ouri, said “It is important to create mechanisms to reinforce social cohesion and understanding, supporting the ability of communities to continuously and constructively evolve and develop, while supporting and protecting women”.