When I started my career and volunteer activities, my great concern was to get up early and stand for long hours on the dangerous desert road, waiting for a bus to take me to the capital Amman or Tafila. In other words, my active life mostly evolved around transportation, just like many of my colleagues residing in the area. I remember hearing a number of stories about people being run over on the desert road by a reckless driver, or simply for not being seen by the driver while standing on the side of the road because the absence of street lights. I also remember my late father, may his soul rest in peace, when he came to me, touched by the death of a neighbor who was waiting for a bus to take him to Amman. I clearly remember what he told me that day: "Your life is more important to me than your social and political activities." He was truly concerned about the safety of his daughters, but I was determined to change that reality

In 2018, I ran for the parliamentary elections to serve the region, but also to act as a model and catalyst for other women. People encouraged me to empower women and increase their opportunities. I started the residents of Al-Hassa Area with nearly 18,000 inhabitants suffering from the lack of basic services - especially public transportation, which continues to be an obstacle in the way of the progress and advancement of many women in the region. What made the situation worse is the closure of Al-Hassa bus complex. As a consequence, buses no longer pass through the city and passengers must wait for it on the highway. Women in particular were anxious about being hit by a speeding vehicle, or being harassed physically or verbally while waiting. This has caused many girls and women to reduce their movement to the minimum. I had a constant feeling that I had to do something to change this reality, because women should have access to safe and reliable transportation as this is a basic right. Furthermore, this issue affects women in particular because most men in the area have their own cars and do not rely on public transportation.

I once spoke about this demand with one of the decision-makers, and his answer was: "Al-Hassa is a corridor and not a central area, any means of transportation to and from the south can service the people of the Al-Hassa region."

At that time, I realized that this issue needs to be explained comprehensively, based on evidence and needs. This led me and my colleagues, Rana Al-Sabaileh and Manal Al-Hajaya from the Al-Hassa Women Charitable Association, to organize a community initiative, through the Arab Network for Civil Education (ANHRE) and with the support of Hivos organization, to demand the establishment of a safe bus stop within the Al-Hassa brigade.

We realized that we must understand the transportation policies in Al-Hassa, and determine the decision-makers. Then, we would have to suggest solutions and alternatives and mobilize people as well as influence public opinion to advocate with us and trigger decision-makers to act on this need.

 

The three of us started to work on the initiative. We first held home sessions with women from the area to collect information and understand the problem more genuinely, its impact on their lives and its importance to them.

The women expressed the urgency of this matter and its importance to them. In addition, they shared their stories as well as stories those of other victims on the desert road; which also include sexual harassment. The women confirmed that their willingness to collaborate with us by attending activities or talking with their neighbors and acquaintances about the importance of this initiative.

We, also, felt that we should meet with the youth, community leaders and residents, as well as decision-makers. We also realized that we needed to network with other civil society organizations to gain support for the proposed policy of our demand to restart the Al-Hassa-Amman bus line and bus stop.

Indeed, we have cooperated with several other civil society organizations, and have formed a team of young men and women in the region to mobilize the community about this demand. In addition, we contacted decision-makers and worked with different departments such as the Governor, the Mayor, the provincial and decentralization council and the transport authority directorate. We also formed a community committee that includes representatives of the local community to gain the support of the Director of the Transport Authority. Finally, we gained a better understanding of the powers of each authority, in order to lobby accordingly for decisions that support our case.

After nearly ten months of diligent and continuous work, we have obtained an official letter from the Al-Hassa district administrator announcing his decision to restart the Al-Hassa-Amman bus line starting from September 1, 2019.  The letter specified working hours and assembly points. The Directorate of Transport also consulted the provision of a bus with an internal line, to be allocated for Al-Hassa Women Charitable Society.

Our happiness with this decision is indescribable. Starting from today, we will be riding on the bus from a specific location, without the need to stand alone on the desert road. A major success of the initiative is that the mayor finally addressed the concerned authorities to allocate a plot of land for the establishment of the travel complex on it.

This experience made me more aware of the importance of community organizing. In addition, I have learnt political and legal terminology required for my work as the head of women and youth affairs in the municipal council. Finally, the Al-Hassa Women Society has achieved a community constituency.