16 Days of Action: Standing Together Against Gender-Based Violence in Jerash Camp

Change does not begin with slogans.
It begins with conversation.

United for Change: 16 Days of Collective Responsibility

As part of the global 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, Hopes launched a comprehensive 16-day community initiative in partnership with ProPeace, bringing together families, youth, children, and community leaders in Jerash Refugee Camp.
From the very first day, the message was clear: building a safer community requires shared responsibility.

A Campaign Designed for the Whole Community

Over 16 days, the campaign addressed different layers of community life. Each activity was intentionally designed to respond to real needs inside the camp.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family & Parenting Awareness:
– Family Awareness Workshop: Building a Safe Family Environment
– Family Protection Workshop
– Critical & Caring Parenting Workshops
– Pre-Marriage Preparation Awareness Session
– Fathers’ Session with Majdi
– “Our Daughters Are Our Responsibility” discussion
These sessions focused on strengthening family bonds, preventing violence, and promoting positive parenting approaches rooted in care, respect, and responsibility.

Let the Numbers Speak

326

Participants

13

Workshops

15

Volunteers

👩‍👧 Women & Mothers’ Engagement

– Embroidery Sessions for Mothers
– Mothers’ Movie Screening
– Film Discussion for Mothers
– “Art from the Heart” Creative Session
These activities created safe spaces for mothers to express themselves, reflect on family dynamics, and engage in meaningful dialogue through art and discussion. The goal was empowerment through connection and awareness.

👧 Girls & Adolescents’ Awareness

Days for Girls: Awareness on Puberty
Embroidery for Young Girls
Teen Carnival (two separate days)

These sessions focused on dignity, body awareness, self-confidence, and safe spaces for teenage girls to learn and connect.

🧑‍🎓 Youth & Community Awareness

Anti-Drug Awareness Workshop
Cybercrime Awareness Workshop
Environmental Awareness Workshop

These discussions addressed emerging risks that directly affect youth and families, providing practical knowledge to prevent harm and promote responsible behavior.

🎈 Children’s Engagement

Kindergarten Carnival: Drawing, Storytelling, Film, Puppet Show

Through creative and age-appropriate activities, younger children were introduced to concepts of safety, kindness, and respect in ways they could understand and enjoy.

Beyond Activities: A Real Community Response

The final day of the campaign was dedicated to team reflection. We evaluated impact, discussed lessons learned, and gathered feedback from participants.
And the feedback was clear.
Community members expressed strong appreciation for the diversity of topics covered. Many participants shared that these sessions addressed urgent and often unspoken needs inside the camp. Even after the campaign concluded, families and youth continued requesting similar workshops and discussions.
This response confirms what we already believed:
These conversations are not optional. They are necessary.

★★★★★

“ The 16 Days campaign gave us space to talk about things we usually keep inside our homes. The parenting session helped me understand how my words and reactions affect my children. I left feeling more aware and more confident as a mother. We truly need more activities like this in the camp. ”

– Mona Ahmad

More Than a Campaign

The 16 Days initiative was not just about raising awareness of gender-based violence. It was about strengthening protective factors within the community:
-Stronger families
-Informed youth
-Empowered mothers
-Engaged fathers
Safe spaces for children
Through our partnership with ProPeace, we moved beyond awareness into practical community engagement.
At Hopes, we remain committed to continuing these efforts. Because real change does not happen in 16 days.
It happens when a community decides to keep the conversation going. 🧡