Published Research & Conference Proceeding
Date of Publication: 04/09/2025
Summary
This study sought to explore the effect of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of young children in low-income households in the Arab region. The study focused on Jordan by following 50 preschool-aged children in Jordan and their mothers over two years, collecting information before and during the pandemic. Researchers looked at changes in children’s emotional and behavioral well-being and examined how these changes related to their mothers’ mental health. The study found that most children showed stable emotional and behavioral well-being over time, while a smaller group experienced increasing emotional difficulties or consistently high behavioral challenges. The researchers found that children’s behavioral patterns were associated with their mothers’ mental health. These findings highlight that children are affected by crises in different ways and can help identify those who may need additional mental health support.
Date of Publication: 14/02/2025
Summary
The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of reading programs such as the We Love Reading program beyond encouraging people to read but also aiding the process of building confidence, independence, and leadership skills. This was done by focusing the study on women in the Arab region specifically by studying the experience of 78 female Emirati university students who participated in We Love Reading. Researchers used surveys and group discussions to understand how the program influences participants. They identified six key elements that shape women’s sense of agency: ability, control, inner strength, authority, freedom to act, and responsibility. Participants felt that We Love Reading strengthened these qualities while also improving their overall satisfaction with life. This suggests that reading initiatives like We Love Reading can not only promote reading but also empower women, encourage positive social change, and support national efforts to build a stronger culture of reading and knowledge across the Arab world.
Date of Publication: 25/11/2024
Summary
This study sought to explore how We Love Reading was able to remain sustainable by interviewing 21 people who helped develop or implement We Love Reading to understand the factors that contributed to this program’s long-term success. The study found that community-based programs’ sustainability depends on balancing two key elements: maintaining the flexibility that allows volunteers to adapt the program to their communities, while also fostering strong motivation and commitment among volunteers. Participants highlighted that both elements were essential for keeping the initiative active. These lessons can help organizations design more sustainable initiatives that continue to benefit communities over time.
Date of Publication: 01/08/2024
Summary
This study explored the extent that community-led reading programs, such as We Love Reading can aid in improving reading skills, attitudes toward reading, and family relationships among Syrian refugee children in Jordan. The research followed 322 Syrian refugee mothers and their children, aged 4-8 years comparing families who participated in the program with those who had not yet joined. The study found that the program did not improve children’s reading skills, family relationships, or children’s own views about reading. However, mothers reported that their children developed a more positive attitude toward reading after participating. These findings suggest that while We Love Reading may help encourage an interest in reading, further improvements may be needed for effective shared book reading for refugee children.
Date of Publication: 30/05/2024
Summary
Community volunteering is often described as empowering women and benefitting the poor, but there is limited research on what that means from the perspectives of those effected. This study explored how Syrian refugee and Jordanian women from low-income families understood empowerment and life satisfaction, and the impact of participating in community-based volunteering programs, specifically We Love Reading. Through group discussions, participants shared their experiences and mapped the factors they believed contributed to positive change in their lives. The study found that women viewed empowerment through cultural, financial, and psychological dimensions, while life satisfaction was associated with adaptation, acceptance, and contentment. Participants also identified volunteering as an important driver of positive change, particularly in strengthening cultural empowerment. These findings highlight the importance of listening to local perspectives when designing and evaluating community programs, helping ensure that policies and initiatives reflect the experiences and priorities of the people they are intended to serve.
Date of Publication: 04/2024
Summary
Although volunteering is often claimed to improve volunteers’ well-being, empowerment, and life satisfaction, there is limited evidence showing how these changes happen, especially in the Middle East. This study explored the impact of We Love Reading on Syrian refugee women living in low-income households in Amman, Jordan. Researchers followed 105 women over one year, using surveys and group discussions to understand how volunteering influenced their lives and how participants defined empowerment and life satisfaction. The study found that volunteering improved women’s overall life satisfaction, although it did not show the same impact on other measures of well-being or empowerment. Through the group discussions, women described empowerment as the ability to make decisions, pursue personal goals, and persevere despite challenges. Many participants also felt that volunteering strengthened their determination to keep working toward their goals. These findings help clarify how and why volunteering achieves social change across different cultures through their definitions and goals.
Date of Publication: 04/03/2024
Date of Publication: 03/08/2023
Date of Publication: 06/04/2023
Date of Publication: 09/09/2022
Date of Publication: 11/02/2022
Date of Publication: 24/04/2021
Date of Publication: 06/09/2021
Date of Publication: 21/12/2020
Date of Publication: 12/02/2020
Date of Publication: 15/05/2019
Date of Publication: 02/04/2019
Date of Publication: 2017
Date of Publication: 2017
Date of Publication: 02/2017
Date of Publication: 2014