Manal's story 

A leadership role in Jerash

If you visit the JOHUD CDC in Kitteh, the person most likely to greet you is Manal Zureiqat. She's the manager of the CDC, and she's been working there since the since the centre was first opened  thirteen years ago.

Through her involvement with the centre, Maral has been able to realize her ambitions for higher education;  she studied a  BA through long-distance learning from a university in  Sudan, at the same time as leading the community center.  

Manal recognizes the role that the CDC played in her life.  "JOHUD helps to empower women to take leadership roles in the community and I think our services can really inspire the women of Jerash," she says. "We have a Knowledge Station, teaching different computer courses, an embroidery project, a child development project, and projects to create economic opportunities for women including giving loans and credit."

Through her thirteen year involvement with the CDC,  Manal has experienced the challenges of development. "At first it was not easy to reach out to the women of the community", she explains. "In those days, because of the nature of this traditional society, it was frowned on for women to go out of the house. We began visiting families, becoming close, explaining the role of the centre, and then they started to come.  "

A visit to the centre reveals how things have changed: Jerash CDC is now full of women learning, working, and volunteering. The women's committee has more than  70 members. It provides a forum in which women can discuss issues they find relevant to their lives, and through which to raise awareness of women's rights. These women are integral parts of the centre. They help attract other women to  come to the center to inquire about joining the CDC, and want to be a part of the different sessions and activities it has. Then they too take on volunteer roles and reach out to others.  

Manal is proud of the transformation she has seen: "Now things have changed, more women are coming. Once you talk local development, everyone flocks to the center to see what we are doing and what is happening." 

 

One of the women who followed Manal's example in Kitteh is I'tidal.  A mother of eight children and a grandmother, she joined the women’s committee 5 years ago. She's also seized opportunities to gain more skills, and three years ago she became an activist with the MAKANA project.  She explains,

 

“MAKANA is not just a project, it is a movement that creates change which is visible. Many of the problems existing in our community were not solved previously, we managed to convince the decision makers and influence change." More than this, I'tadel senses that the female community feel more confident and empowered: "People look at us now as real agents of change not just housewives”.

 

A major success was the campaign the women led to clean up the environment. They mobilised the whole community - bringing in the Municipality to help eradicate the rats that had been plaguing the community for years.