Leyla Projekt | Partnership
How it Began
In 2020, we formed a partnership with a German organization for a project called Leyla Projekt. The conception of the project began with Dr. Ann-Katrin Bockmann, a psychologist at the University of Hildesheim. During her visit to Jordan for a specialist conference, research findings of a Syrian psychologist caught her attention. When she returned to Germany Dr. Bockmann connected with Prof. Dr. Tom Holmes, an internationally working psychologist, experienced in working with traumatized refugees and Michael Borkowski, theologist and therapist from Hanover. Together, they formed a plan to strengthen mothers based on the research findings from the Syrian psychologist.
Ithraa Jordan and Ithraa Lebanon are implementing the plan with different groups throughout both countries with the support of the group in Germany.
The Research: Strengthening the Mothers
Traumatized children can be relieved by strengthening their mothers. This approach has been successfully tested and scientifically proven. The findings proved the key role of mothers in healing whole families: by offering mothers trauma accompaniment, children are benefitting directly.
Where We Currently Are
Both Ithraa Jordan and Ithraa Lebanon have completed Phase 1 with a number of groups, which consists of our Relational Needs training and coaching course as well as our Mindful Living program. The goal of strengthening the mothers has already started to show a ripple effect, having notable impact on their own lives and the lives of those around them.
What We Have Planned for the Future
With the support of our partners in Germany, our goal for the future is to continue working with the same groups of mothers, strengthening them, as well as the youth and husbands of those mothers. Moreover, we will begin the same process with new groups of mothers soon.
