Sakeena is a youth-centered, non-profit and non-partisan organization registered formally in Jordan since 2010. We work to ensure that every orphan leaving care homes is an equal member of society who has the access to continued care, community, and advocacy for human and civil rights.
We believe that with the right partnerships, integral programming, and advocacy, the present and future of hundreds and thousands of orphans can change. We have had many success stories and we continue to enable the potential, talents, and voices of our youth.
What happens to orphans once they leave care facilities? Where do they go? How do they start lives as young adults alone? How are they protected from extreme poverty, abuse, exploitation, severe decline in mental health, unemployment, and isolation? How can we expect them to stand on their own with many lacking basic literacy, struggle emotionally and socially, and deal with unfair stigma, shaming, and ostracization?
Our society is defined by identity, tribal, family, and religious affiliations that not only influence how we are treated, but also limit our opportunities for education, work, and housing. This reality is particularly challenging for orphans and individuals with no known families, who are at risk of living in the shadows as invisible, easily exploited individuals.
Without the support and resources that come with established affiliations, these individuals are often trapped in a cycle of disadvantage that perpetuates across generations. As an organization, we are committed to breaking this cycle and creating a more equitable society for everyone.
We believe that every individual deserves the opportunity to live a fulfilling and meaningful life, regardless of their affiliations or background. Through our work, we strive to provide support, resources, and advocacy for those who are at risk of falling through the cracks.
We advocate and defend the rights of orphans, individuals who are discriminated against due to being born women who were victims to sexual violence and crimes to unmarried parents, and are at an increased risk of rejection in society, domestic violence, addiction, torture, and homelessness.
We offer a set of integrated, documented, and human rights-based services, including:
Sakeena aligns with both the International Human Rights Declaration and the United Nations Sustainable Development Agenda. Specifically, we are committed to contributing to the following UN SDGs in Jordan:
UN SDG 1, No Poverty: We focus on meeting the basic needs of individuals in our community who experience poverty due to their identity, and aim to help them achieve long-term independence, dignified living, and meaningful connections and opportunities.
UN SDG2, No Hunger: Nobody can live or function under hunger. It is everyone's right to have access to dignified meals. At Sakeena, we coordinate the access to coupons instead of ready-made food packages to enable choices which contribute to their long-term health and well-being.
UN SDG 3, Good Health and Well-being: Our trained staff, vetted experts, and social workers work to address the health needs and well-being requirements of our community while taking into account their unique situation, cultural norms, backgrounds, and histories.
UN SDG 4, Quality Education: We offer free-of-charge classes and sessions to individuals who have fallen through the cracks in the education system, including orphans and people struggling with illiteracy, to enable them to return to the education system and pursue continued academic growth.
UN SDG 5, Gender Equality: We recognize and stand by women and girls, acknowledging that their gender and identity in society pose additional obstacles to safety, privacy, dignified education and employment, and the prevention of experiencing domestic and sexual violence, emotional abuse and manipulation, honor-shaming, cyber bullying and blackmailing, and other direct threats. Our programming and mission reflect our commitment to intersectionality.
UN SDG 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth: We work to help our community members develop the skills necessary to secure stable employment, build networks, make connections with employers, and understand their labor rights, particularly orphans and those with severed or unknown family ties who often lack positive examples, guidance, and knowledge of the labor market.
UN SDG 10, Reduced Inequalities: At the core of our work, we advocate against discrimination based on ethnic and religious affiliations (or the lack thereof), skin color, age, gender, and economic status. Our cause is a matter of human rights, not charity or temporary interventions.
UN SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals: We partner with stakeholders who possess resources to help people in need, including authorities, legal aid centers, research organizations, creatives, activists, and funding bodies.
Policy: Our organization played a concrete role in eliminating derogatory terms such as "bastard" from formal documents in Jordan, replacing them with language that was chosen by Sakeena's community. Additionally, we participated in the development of key policy papers and documents, a contribution that was recognized by global platforms such as Ashoka.
Programs: Our organization has provided critical support to over 1200 individuals who were in emergency situations or at risk, including shelter, legal representation, psychosocial support, and ongoing community assistance. We have also established a comprehensive case management system to ensure that our interventions are systematic and effective.
Gender: We have implemented formal and community-based strategies to safeguard the lives of women and girls who are in life-threatening situations, particularly those who are victims of sexual crimes and gender-based violence. Our efforts are especially important for isolated individuals who are at greater risk due to their status.
Media and Arts: Sakeena has been featured in the award-winning film ID 000 by Widad Shafakoj, as well as a theater production directed by our youth in Amman.
Sakeena's community is comprised of young people and individuals who are exceptionally inspiring and resilient. They offer each other a unique form of solidarity and togetherness to overcome adversities. We hold each person we work with in high esteem, and our top priority is their wellbeing, rights, and cause. Through our work, many community members have successfully completed studies, secured decent jobs, received training, formed meaningful friendships, and found safe accommodations.
Policy and Campaign Objectives:
Organization and Community Objectives:
We are open to inquiries, proposals, partnerships, and donations from individuals and organizations worldwide who share our values of integrity, transparency, human rights, and sustainable development. Whether you are located in Jordan or abroad, we welcome your support.
Our team is available to engage with a wide range of professionals and advocates, including advocacy groups, researchers, policy analysts, filmmakers, photographers, artists, and representatives from donor organizations. We understand that not everyone speaks Arabic or English fluently, so we will do our best to communicate with you in a language that works for you.
We also work with volunteers and are happy to offer modest compensation to those who can provide teaching, training, mentorship, and guidance. Our volunteer opportunities are carefully designed to protect the safety and privacy of our community and tend to be medium- to long-term engagements. If you're interested in volunteering, please get in touch and we will be happy to provide more information.
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