Finding Refuge: A Story of Strength at the Jordan Women’s Union Shelter

Story by: Abeer Allan

For fifteen long years, Mrs. S (real name and initials are not used for the safety of the beneficiary) endured unimaginable hardship within the confines of an abusive early-marriage. Married at a young age, she faced relentless physical and psychological violence, coupled with financial deprivation. With two children relying on her, the thought of leaving seemed impossible. Fear and uncertainty overshadowed her life, but she knew she had to seek a way out; for herself and her children.

“When I almost lost my life from the beating, that was my sign to leave with my kids for safety. I turned to the Jordanian Women’s Union (JWU) shelter seeking protection and the chance to rebuild my life and my children’s shattered life,” she shares. JWU’s shelter, an initiative supported by UN Women, became her refuge – providing her and her children with immediate accommodation. For over two years, they found safety within the walls of JWU’s shelter, a place where fear was replaced with hope and despair transformed into strength.

JWU’s support extended far beyond the shelter, Mrs. S underwent individual and joint counseling sessions, which became instrumental in helping her process years of trauma and navigate the road ahead. Through these sessions, she shares, “I learned that I was not only abused physically and psychologically. The trainer helped me identify different types of violence, and, only then, I realized that I had also been subjected to sexual and verbal abuse.” Recognizing the profound impact of domestic violence on children, JWU ensured that her children received the psychological assistance they desperately needed. They were placed in nearby schools and given emotional support, allowing them to reclaim a sense of normalcy and stability. “My children had suffered in silence for so long,” she shares, “At the shelter, they finally had a safe space to heal. Seeing them smile again and feel safe gave me the strength to keep moving forward.”

A journey to independence

Legal empowerment was another cornerstone of her journey to independence. Through the shelter’s legal assistance programme, JWU assigned a lawyer to represent Mrs. S in court, advocating for her and her children's financial rights. With proper legal aid, she was able to reclaim what was rightfully hers, securing a future free from the shadows of her past. Alongside legal support, healthcare was also prioritized. Mrs. S and her children received comprehensive medical care through the shelter’s clinic. With access to vital health services, they began the physical and emotional healing journey.

Rebuilding her life also meant finding financial independence, so JWU provided her with the support needed to sustain a good living, by helping her secure stable employment at one of its training centers. Mrs. S went through a training programme in the field she was interested the most; cooking. The shelter provides four different specializations in their training programmes: Cooking, Beauty salon, tailoring and traditional clothing.

 “For the first time, I had my own income,” she says with a proud smile, “I could buy food for my children without asking for permission. I finally felt in control of my own life.”

With a steady income, she took the next courageous step, securing a home of her own. No longer shackled by dependence on an abusive partner, Mrs. S now stands as a pillar of strength for her children. “Now, I wake up every morning knowing we are safe,” she shares. “I provide for my children, and we have a future filled with possibilities, especially with them being back in schools. I am so proud of my children, they are achieving high grades.”

Today, Mrs. S is a provider and a beacon of hope. Her story portrays a woman’s ability to reclaim her life despite the darkest of circumstances. It is a testament to strength and to the transformative power of adequate support. Thanks to JWU and their UN Women-supported shelter, Mrs. S and her children are no longer victims of violence but architects of a future built on dignity, safety, security and freedom.