Tell us a little about yourself. Your background, your family, where you are from, and what you do.

I’m a 75-year-old retired clinical psychologist who primarily worked in multidisciplinary and hospital settings, and as a clinical supervisor for doctoral and master’s level therapists during their internships. The primary group of people that I worked with were those challenged by HIV/AIDS – either dealing with their own illness or those who were caregivers, and with the trauma surrounding many years of stigma and discrimination by the general public and those who would traditionally care for people facing life-threatening and/or terminal situations.

Why did you want to volunteer to work with refugees in Jordan? 

I wanted to volunteer in Jordan when I discovered that the situation for refugees there was also one of stigma, discrimination, and their experience of trauma from raging wars and unspeakable atrocities brought down upon them. I hoped that there was something that I could provide to ease some of their pain.

How did you discover Global Care Force (GCF), and what convinced you this was the right organization for you volunteer efforts?    

I first heard about Global Care Force through a friend who had been volunteering with the organization in Ukraine over the previous year. Her stories about the people there, what they were experiencing in terms of the trauma involved due to the war with Russia, and how she was able through GCF to provide some measure of comfort and care were heartfelt, and I was impressed by her commitment to return time after time. It truly seemed to be a mission of care and love, and to have touched her in a profound way. Since retiring, I had been looking for something that I could devote time to that would make a difference and that would provide me with a sense of purpose and to which I could bring my passion for helping others.

Global Care Force has had trauma counseling volunteers in Ukraine supporting civilians affected by the trauma of war. As our first psychologist volunteer serving with refugees in the Middle East, how would you describe the difference between trauma counseling and the broader role of a psychologist?   

Trauma counseling is a field that stands on its own in terms of how one would care for someone experiencing that. As a psychologist, I would normally have the opportunity over an extended period to work with, get to know, and provide these patients with some sense of being able to move through their experiences and to plan for a better future. Unfortunately, because of the sheer numbers of people living in this kind of ‘war zone’ situation and their incredible need, there is little time to provide the above-mentioned support. Opening up about their traumatic experiences is not really possible for most of the refugees in the allotted amount of time, and to attempt to contain the potential of strong emotional reactions to remembering/reliving past experiences was not possible. We did what we could.

Can you share a story about a patient, Jordanian staff member or fellow volunteer that particularly impacted you? What moments or interactions will stay with you? 

There are many experiences of working with patients and other volunteers that stay with me. First, I was so impressed by the Jordanians who volunteered to take care of us while we were in Jordan, and those who acted as our interpreters. The translator that I worked with most of the time, named Mary, is a US citizen living in Jordan for the last eight years with her family. She was fluent in Arabic, and her ability to talk to the women patients was especially impressive. She provided significant assistance in clarifying our objectives and supporting the individuals we interacted with.

Each of those we saw, Syrian, Iraqi, or Sudanese, left a lasting impression on me. I was particularly moved by some of the mothers from Sudan and their children who were struggling with lack of food, and the many Iraqis and Syrians who had lost family members and everything they owned to the wars in their countries and to the forces of ISIS as they moved through terrorizing and destroying lives. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the tears in their eyes as they described their losses.

Was there a common theme you heard from the patients you met with?   

The overwhelming theme running through the lives of all of the patients we saw was loss: loss of loved ones, loss of homes, loss of countries.

The refugee crisis in Jordan, particularly concerning Syrian refugees, doesn’t receive much media attention anymore. Why do you think it’s important for people to know about the refugee crisis in Jordan?  

I don’t think that most people – particularly in the West – realize that the refugee crisis in Jordan is as significant as it is. The Jordanian people seem to be struggling with the huge influx of people from neighboring countries, there are severe restrictions on how these people can work and provide for their families, and the biases against many of these people compound the experience for them. I think that if others could experience this firsthand, there might be more resources being directed toward them.

What would you tell someone who is considering volunteering with Global Care Force, whether in Jordan or other locations?

I would tell others who would like to offer their time and expertise to those in need to “lead with their hearts.”

Is anything else you would like to share about your experience in Jordan with GCF?

I feel privileged and honored to have been invited to participate in and with this caring, capable, and devoted group of individuals.

Interested in volunterring with Global Care Force? Learn more!