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Jordanian Mother Stands Up for Herself

FrontLines - July 2009

Ten years ago, Amira owned a beauty salon, drove her own car, and helped her husband pay the household bills. But her life changed in an instant when she was hit by a car.

She was left disabled and forced to learn to walk again; her husband divorced her. Penniless, she worried how she would support her two young children. Divorced women in Jordanian society are particularly vulnerable, and Amira was desperate to find a means to feed her children.

Women from the USAID-supported Ray of Light program in Jordan have assisted themselves and others.

She began working for a USAID-supported program called “Bushra” (Ray of Light). She began teaching others about HIV/AIDS and how behavior change can protect people—counseling vulnerable women in low-income areas.

In Jordanian society, even the discussion of HIV/AIDS is a cultural taboo. But Amira saw that she could help other women through this program. Added to the stigma of divorce, Amira also faced the perception in the community that she spread knowledge about an “immoral disease.”

Despite these challenges, Amira continued to make a difference in the lives of women whose stories were not much different from her own. With her energy and enthusiasm, she was soon offered a full-time position.

Amira credits the USAID program with changing her life.

“I always had trouble standing up for myself. Now, I understand that I have rights, and I can defend the rights of other women as well,” said Amira, now the outreach coordinator for the women’s project.

“I talk to my friends and their children about HIV/AIDS and how they can protect themselves. I am supporting myself and my children again. I have come a long way.” ★

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