Abshiri+ was a noteworthy project spearheaded by Drabzeen Human Development between 2017 and 2020 as a vital component of the Women Empowered for Leadership Program. This initiative was established through a collaborative effort with HIVOS and received essential funding from The Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, reflecting a strategic alliance dedicated to bolstering the support and empowerment of Jordanian women, with a specific focus on encouraging their pursuit of leadership positions.

The project unfolded across three distinct phases, each contributing uniquely to its overarching objectives. The first phase, known as Cafe Talks, were led by Ambassadors and commenced with a crucial event called the “Training of Trainers” (TOT), which prepared 11 volunteers referred to as “Focal Points”.  These dedicated individuals received comprehensive training on women’s empowerment, equipping them to conduct their own training sessions. Subsequently, each Focal Point took up the responsibility of training additional volunteer ambassadors within their respective governorates, facilitating peer-to-peer knowledge exchange. The project further progressed when 21 carefully selected Ambassadors, three from each governorate of Jordan, undertook pilot studies focused on women’s empowerment. These studies aimed to evaluate the status of women in leadership roles within their regions and shed light on the primary challenges faced by women in civic engagement and the pursuit of leadership positions.

Drawing upon the valuable insights gained from the Ambassadors’ research, the outcomes of these studies were instrumental in determining the themes for future Cafe Talks in each governorate. This tailored approach ensured that each Cafe Talk centered around issues specific to the participants’ respective regions. The key findings and formulated topics from the studies addressed a range of pertinent matters, such as economic barriers hindering women’s progress in leadership, employment challenges arising from social constraints, stereotypes, and religious values, as well as the importance of addressing the issue of low confidence among women aspiring to pursue leadership roles.

Based on the Ambassadors’ research and productive dialogues with community members during the Cafe Talks, numerous youth-led initiatives dedicated to women’s empowerment took shape. These initiatives included efforts to improve transportation safety and reliability for women outside of Amman, hosting free training workshops to support women entering the workforce, educating women across Jordan on their constitutional rights, and combating social stigmas by delivering impactful talks at local schools on the importance of women in leadership. A notable highlight involved the Ambassadors presenting their initiatives and fostering healthy competition at the governorate level to determine the most successful campaigns. Following this, the winning initiatives from each governorate competed at the “Abshiri+ Shop” event, where the most impactful campaign on a national scale emerged triumphant.

The project’s third phase involved intensive training for 12 handpicked “Advocacy Fellows,” centered on essential aspects of advocacy, campaign management, and needs assessment. The Fellows conducted valuable research, and the findings served as the bedrock for planning and preparing future advocacy campaigns.

An essential component running in tandem with the initiatives was the Media Campaign, which played a crucial role in raising awareness about the importance of women’s empowerment programs in Jordan. This comprehensive campaign successfully promoted the activities and impacts of the initiatives, reaching a broader audience and garnering support for the cause.

At Drabzeen, our research has revealed a significant gap in Arabic educational resources on social media, particularly in the field of science. In response to this identified need, we introduced The Alchemist Project, an innovative collection of online resources aimed at enhancing the accessibility of Arabic educational content for students.

At the heart of The Alchemist is a series of captivating Arabic YouTube episodes meticulously curated for students across the Arabic-speaking world. Our dedicated hosts employ engaging teaching methods and delve into various science topics while conducting fascinating experiments using everyday materials. By combining education and entertainment, The Alchemist seeks to make science both enjoyable and comprehensible for young minds.

Our overarching vision for The Alchemist is to serve as a versatile educational tool that can be seamlessly integrated into classrooms and complement homework assignments. By presenting complex scientific concepts in an approachable manner, we aspire to empower students to grasp these subjects more effectively. The Alchemist’s guiding slogan, “watch it, try it, and enjoy it,” embodies our commitment to inspiring students not only to learn about science but to revel in the  process.

Furthermore, at Drabzeen, we understand the transformative potential of high-quality educational resources, and with The Alchemist, we endeavor to contribute significantly to the intellectual development and curiosity of young learners in the Arabic-speaking world. Our goal is to foster a generation of inquisitive minds who embrace science as an essential pillar of knowledge and exploration.

As we continue to evolve The Alchemist Project, our team remains dedicated to expanding its reach and impact, ultimately enriching the educational landscape across the Arabic-speaking community. Together, let us ignite the passion for learning and scientific exploration, one engaging episode at a time. Join us on this remarkable journey of knowledge and discovery with The Alchemist.