Project changes perspectives on early marriage, child labour in nationwide campaign

AMMAN — A project initiated nine months ago has managed to change some local communities’ take on controversial issues through a holistic approach that targeted people from all walks of life.

The “Protection and Safety Project”, implemented by the Sisterhood Is Global Institute/Jordan (SIGI/J), Global Communities and USAID, utilised creative ideas to raise awareness on four issues: early marriage, child labour, human trafficking and gender-based violence.

The methods used to encourage local communities to take a stand against these aspects included interactive theatrical plays, TV and radio infomercials and programmes, social media messages and lectures delivered by trained facilitators.

The project, which came to an end on Sunday, has affected the lives of many people, among them Malak Shamali, who had been forced into marriage at the age of 14.

“My parents were very tough on me. Perhaps this is why I did not oppose the marriage, but now after being part of the project, I teach my female students how wrong it is to get married at a young age,” she said at a ceremony to mark the conclusion of the project.

Hamed Abdullah, another beneficiary of the initiative, noted that raising his daughters’ three children after her husband died was not easy.

“I encouraged them to continue their studies, but the eldest wanted to leave school and work. I helped him find a job at first, but the awareness I have gained through this project has made me change my mind,” Abdullah noted.

Under the initiative, 51 interactive plays and 270 lectures were organised across Jordan.

“Some audience members stepped up after the play to tell us that we have depicted their lives in a few minutes. A woman with tears in her eyes asked me once: ‘how did you know my story?’” said Asma Mustafa, an actress and director involved in the project.

In addition, several media figures were active in the programme, putting their experience at the disposal of the project.

Rana Shawar, the initiative’s media adviser, noted that several TV and radio programmes have been aired on the issues in question.

According to SIGI/J, a total of 9,618 cases of early marriage were recorded in Jordan last year, accounting for 13.2 per cent of the total 72,860 marriages registered in 2013.

As for child labour, national studies indicate that there are 37,760 working boys and girls between the ages of five and 17, while international figures show that around 14 cases of human trafficking were recorded in Jordan between 2011 and 2012, victimising 23 people.

Organisers noted that the project will not end here, having created ambassadors in local communities to continue pushing for change.