Change Agents!

CHANGE AGENTS!

Rana Husseini is a female Jordanian journalist who first began advocating for her cause in 1994. As a journalist for a small Jordanian paper she first came across the story of a young girl who had become a victim of an ‘honor killing.’ After Rana read of her story she became an investigative journalist looking further into the unspoken world on honor killings. What she found was a story she wanted to dedicate the rest of her life advocating for. She began fighting to bring the persecutors of honor killings to justice and she did so by joining the Jordan National Committee to Eliminate So-Called ‘Crimes of Honor’ in 1998. She started petitions and became one of the biggest advocates for honor killings. As Rana tells in her first story of hearing about this epidemic, an honor killing can be defined as

“In the name of honor, a sixteen-year-old girl was killed by her family because she was raped by her brother. He assaulted her several times and then threatened to kill her if she told anyone. When she discovered that she was pregnant she had to tell her family. After the family arranged an abortion, they married her off to a man fifty years her senior. When he divorced her six months later, her family murdered her” (Unknown, 2008).

Last year in Jordan between 15 and 20 people were killed, strangled to death, stabbed or beaten by family members in the ancient tradition of honor killings. (IRIN, 2007). These crimes are used in Jordanian culture as a way to preserve the honor of a family and have been for years. The crimes are usually specifically geared towards women but it had increased to mixed gender with the fast adapting culture. This problem has become on the radar thanks to Rana Husseini’s public campaign to end the ridiculous rituals but it hasn’t been fully affective. Many of the murders face little or no jail time if convicted at all. A quote from Rana herself said, “It is often found out that victims were virgins but when the court looks at the case, the sentences they give are very mild compared to the crime.” This quote is one of many that express the discontent with punishment for honor crimes and the basic lack of awareness. In many cases Huessini has been the leading force in awareness and advocacy for the victims of honor crimes and made a major impact on the social issue. Besides organizing community events and being the lead part in many Jordanian women’s activist groups recently Rana has written her own book about honor crimes titled: “Murder in the Name of Honour: The true story of one woman’s heroic fight against an unbelievable crime.” This book “has poured all the passion, commitment, insight and frustration of 15 years of campaigning against murder in the name of honor. Her writing style is crisp and engaging. Her factual information and analysis are comprehensive” (Bland, 2009). Rana uses this book as a tool to continually contribute to the advocacy of a population with no survivors to advocate for them. She is truly changing social work by giving a voice to victims who have no other way to tell their story and creating information on an unknown subject to create more awareness.

This leads into a different type of change agent Mr. Noah Baker Merril. Noah is a young male humanitarian activist from the United States. Noah didn’t start off wanting to change the situation stumbled upon in Iraq, but once he did, he had to dedicate his life to it. Noah became passionate about humanitarian rights when he was on a visit in Jordan and stumbled upon displaced Iraqi’s. After seeing this Noah knew he had to make a change and advocate for the rights and care of all displaced Iraqi citizens. From there, Noah co-founded Direct Aid Iraq, which operates on a simple principle “Americans have a responsibility to support a peaceful future for Iraqis, and building relationships is part of that restitution process. The global network connects Iraqis with urgent medical care on a case-by-case basis, advocates for resettlement, and facilitates other organizations” (UNTE Reader Staff, 2009). Noah is still working on expanding his project and making it better known. He often gives speeches and advertising such as a new project where Internet surfers can download a free album with a donation it Direct Aid Iraq. Noah is creating awareness and fixing the situation of inhumane conditions and the displacement of Iraqi citizens affected by the war. A new social problem emerging with the fairly new Iraqi war and something that hasn’t been considered while protecting our country. In doing this Noah is setting up a project that will be carried on to help all citizens of Iraq and even spread to other war-torn areas. Since his project has begun Noah has already spread awareness and added another lasting contribution under his belt. He has expanded his project to other regions such as Mexico providing resources for indigenous populations. (“Noah baker merrils, 2008). Noah is a revolutionary young person who has an idea and turned it into something real. Many people can’t have a lasting impression or affect on a community like he has. His work with Direct Aid Iraq has become a household name and has many volunteers today. Like a true change agent he has sparked a movement to better others and create a positive change in society.

My leadership style is driven by passion. I feel I can be the most outgoing, stand up, kindhearted leader if I’m advocating for something I am passionate about. I enjoy working with large organizations that are in reach of the common goal and enjoy being in a leadership position in which anyone can turn to me for help or advice. One social issue I feel really passionate about is focusing on the lack of help in other countries. I am very passionate about being an international social worker and working to better and benefit other countries. I’m passionate about helping citizens in war-torn areas with medical, financial and psychological help. That’s why I chose these two change agents because they are bettering a community that is not in the United States. Their passions focus on over seas issues, which is something I feel very strongly about. Out of thirty students in a class, 29 of them most likely want to work in this country and I like to think I am the 1 that wants to focus on abroad issues. From Rana I have learned that being fearless and doing what you feel is right can spark a social workers passion into a full-blown movement. I think as a change agent, she shed light on an issue that was overlooked by people in her country. She dared to stand up against her culture and stick up for what she felt was right. As a change agent I want a lasting contribution of doing what is right regardless of culture or consequences, just like Rana. In Noah’s case he is changing the other side of the world at only 32-years-old. He is using his young age and passion to his advantage and creating a movement that is spreading worldwide. From him I have learned that being young means nothing, and you can get anything accomplished if you have enough courage to pursue it. This is another quality I’d like to have as a change agent. Being able to go after something I want and have a true passion at a young age to change the world. These two are very similar in the fact that they found an issue that was affecting them and decided to make small changes that evolved into a larger positive change. Courage is another trait both these change agents share. In Rana’s case she dared to go against her country’s culture and expose an ancient ritual that could have had serious repercussions but because she knew what was right she has to courage to change it. Noah saw a large problem he wasn’t sure he could change on a small scale but his willingness to help people who were caught in a war turned into something truly magical.

Want to donate to Direct Iraqi Aid?! The album I mentioned in my article?! Click below :)

http://ottmarliebert.com/rose/

References

Bland, S. (2009, June 15). Giving voice to the victims. Retrieved from http://archive.jordantimes.com/?news=17553&searchFor=rana%20husseini

IRIN. (2007, March 11). Jordan: honor killings still tolerated. Retrieved from http://www.irinnews.org/report.aspx?reportid=70634

Noah baker merril's page. (2008). Retrieved from http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org/profile/NoahBakerMerrill

Unknown. (2008). Rana husseini bio. Retrieved from http://www.activisminstitute.org/joo/index.php/en/meet-the-activists/rana-husseinis-bio?phpMyAdmin=63Zd5MNYvoB-puvrTCp0,rioaHc

UNTE Reader Staff. (2009, November). Noah baker merril: Cofounder, direct aid iraq. Retrieved from http://plato.bridgew.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_2_1&url=/webapps/blackboard/execute/launcher?type=Course&id=_12662_1&url=