We are delighted to welcome Huda Siddiqui as a volunteer at the We Love Reading office in Amman. Huda holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health from Yale University in the United States and completed an eight-year Islamic scholar program, during which she studied Urdu and Arabic.
Huda will join the We Love Reading program in Jordan for a year through the Parker Huang Postgraduate Fellowship from Yale University, which allows her to work abroad while focusing on social and cultural issues in a manner that respects local context and cultural sensitivity.
Her joining reflects her strong interest in working with local social impact organizations and community-based programs. She has been particularly inspired by the program’s research, which highlights its significant impact on the well-being of women and children, their growth, literacy, learning, and community development. She admires how a simple idea can create such a powerful effect and looks forward to contributing to a positive impact through cultural exchange, language development, and working in a community with urgent needs.
Huda also aims to improve her Arabic to better understand and communicate with others. She aspires to help Western communities gain a deeper understanding of the MENA region and marginalized Muslim communities. She is committed to combating Islamophobia and promoting a deeper understanding of Muslim communities that are often misunderstood and stigmatized.
Her research focuses on integrating Islamic psychology with Western therapeutic approaches to reduce stigma in Muslim communities. She received the Parker Huang Postgraduate Fellowship from Yale University.
In the long term, Huda shares her goals of creating localized solutions for specific communities, collaborating toward shared objectives, and learning from diverse perspectives. She has been deeply moved by the hospitality she has experienced in Jordan and hopes to carry the lessons learned into supporting under-resourced communities in the United States, with a focus on improving health, education, resources, and opportunities for women and children by addressing systemic issues through community engagement and policy advocacy.
Huda values the philosophy of We Love Reading, which emphasizes: “You know your community best,” as well as the deep trust the organization builds with ambassadors, stakeholders, and behind-the-scenes contributors who work tirelessly toward a shared vision.