Emotional breakthroughs were common in Celebrating Families sessions

Written by: Soha Al-Shawabkeh

Yousef* and Tamara* both found healing and growth through World Vision’s Celebrating Families initiative. The programme teaches positive parenting skills, how to manage emotions, and how to strengthen communication within families.

Around the world, 1.2 billion children are subjected to violent punishment at home. Since 2023, the World Vision's Embracing Hope project has been supporting families and communities as part of the Celebrating Families initiative in Zarqa and Amman, Jordan. 

Yousef and Tamara's experiences reflect how the initiative is nurturing healthier, more resilient households in their community.

Yousef*, a 35-year-old father and active member of his local church, first encountered World Vision Syria Response through WV’s partnership with his church. “World Vision is an incredible organisation,” he shares. “Its mission resonates deeply with ours, bringing families together and empowering them to thrive.”

As a new father, Yousef felt a strong desire to grow both personally and as a parent. He joined WV’s Celebrating Families initiative as a facilitator, eager to learn and support others with their parenting journeys.

The programme equipped him and other facilitators during seven comprehensive parenting materials sessions over four days, enabling them to later share their knowledge and guide families in their community.

“The resources we received during the session were invaluable,” Yousef explains. “They helped me understand how to support parents in becoming the best versions of themselves. We were also given the opportunity to select families to participate, which allowed us to reach those who needed it most.”

The curriculum was thoughtfully designed, simple, culturally sensitive, and deeply aligned with the values of the local community. Partnering with local faith organisations, World Vision fosters hope and resilience among parents.

By working closely with churches, the initiative created a trusting environment where families felt supported and empowered.

Throughout the sessions, emotional breakthroughs were common. Participants courageously shared their personal stories, struggles, and hopes, fostering a powerful sense of connection and mutual support.

“Their stories truly moved me,” Yousef reflects. “I saw how open they were to learning and embracing change. Many of them began to shift their parenting styles, becoming more nurturing and communicative”.

The project had a positive impact on Yousef's family too. “I began to understand my wife better and learned how to raise our child in a way that breaks the cycle of trauma many of us grew up with,” he says.

Widow and devoted mother of four, Tamara* is a passionate educator who discovered a renewed sense of hope when she took part in the Celebrating Families initiative. She was introduced to World Vision through her famiy's active involvement in the same church as Yousef.

Driven by a deep love for her children and a strong belief in the importance of psychosocial support, especially in the context of cultural and social development, Tamara embraced the opportunity to be a participant with an open heart.

“The facilitators were incredible,” she recalls warmly. “They truly listened to us, created a safe space, and encouraged us to speak freely without fear or judgement.”

Through six sessions, Tamara began to confront and understand her own emotional struggles, particularly her anger issues. She learned practical techniques to manage her emotions, such as pausing, counting to ten, and reflecting before reacting.

These tools not only helped her regain control but also transformed her relationship with her children. “They noticed the change in me,” she shares. “Instead of running away from problems, they started coming to me to talk things through.”

For Tamara, the initiative was far more than a series of sessions, it was a turning point. “They gave me the strength to keep moving forward and to become a better version of myself, for me and for my children,” she says with pride.

The impact of the Celebrating Families initiative extended far beyond Yousef and Tamara's households. It reached 101 women and 492 children, both girls and boys, embodying the core mission of the project; to nurture healthier, more resilient families. 

*Names changed to protect identities.