What are some of the most useful lessons you've learned
through paper reviews?
The paper review was a huge learning experience for me. The
feedback I received from the Writing Center was significantly constructive and
valuable. It helped me better understand the use of the
APA Style in a practical way through the suggestions and examples provided by
the Writing Center Instructors. In some of my courses, I received minimal
feedback from instructors but that was compensated by the feedback I received
from the paper reviews. Through the feedback I received from the Writing Center, I was guided on how to find answers to my questions by always referring
to the prompt of the assignment or discussion post. The suggestions of
enhancing structure and using more formal and suitable words enhanced my
language substantially. I have to admit that what I learned through the Writing
Center paper review did not only enhance my work at Walden but also my writing
for my work.
What does social change mean to you?
To start talking about social change, I would like to share
an excerpt from my first discussion post in my current PhD program. "You
changed my life." That was an honest statement an 11-year-old boy said to
me in the closing ceremony of a project called "from Child to Child"
that I was coordinating in sponsorship by UNICEF in 2006. That phrase made me
speechless with no words to respond back. That phrase was ringing in my mind
non-stop for a long time until it made me realize its meaning and the
achievement behind it. I have not seen that child again, but I can never forget
his words and smiling face. He made me realize that I can be of help, and I can
be a change agent. He drafted my first rough goal in life which is to help
children, who I believe are both current citizens and future leaders.
That was an introduction that I wrote in my first discussion
post in my first course in this Ph.D. program. Social change, which is the main
goal in all I do, is also the motive, which made me select Walden University.
The reminder of social change in most of the assignments and discussion posts
throughout the various courses made it part of my thinking and actions. As for
my understanding of the meaning of social change, I do believe there is always
a motive and a reason for a person to be a social change agent. That motive is
what directs the person towards a goal that contributes to social change. The
meaning of social change for me is what we do as individuals, groups, and
organizations to create change that yields to positive social outcomes.
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| Shaima is on the far right of this photo, wearing a black scarf |
What social issues have you observed in your community, and
how have you advocated for positive social change?
Children and women are the most vulnerable groups, who are mostly
dealt with as secondary citizens in the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) region. The person I’ve become and
what I achieved so far as a Middle Eastern woman is what I consider a great
accomplishment. Going against the norms to achieve noble goals to contribute to
social change was a struggle in a conservative society such as Yemen and the
MENA region in general. However, I was able to harvest the fruits of my work
when I saw the youth I supported come out of their shells and speak for
themselves. With my determination and passion for change, I led national
campaigns and programs contributing to the welfare and protection of children
and young people.
I contributed to social change through the children/youth empowerment network that I initiated with my colleagues in
Yemen, which I consider my life project. Some colleagues and I started this
network with 4 teachers and 10 school students. We trained them on essential
life skills and designing and managing community-service projects. The impact
of this project was tremendous on the community and the youth as well. The
outcomes of this project made me and my colleagues decide to continue and
expand the project. Now the network operates in ten cities with around 1500
youth and 600 teachers who work in community-services projects to support their
communities. My colleagues and I (trainers, field coordinators, and mentors)
are volunteers who made this network one of the biggest in the country. Some of these
young people were selected to present their experience in international
conferences and won in some other international competitions. I always see the
youth transform when they go through an experience in which they design and
lead initiatives themselves and contribute to social change. It is rewarding
when some of these young people meet us and say “you changed our lives”!
What challenges have you encountered in your pursuit of
social change? How have you overcome them?
In a developing country like Yemen, promoting rights
sometimes is a challenge. Young people and children are merely passive
listeners in the different settings, especially home and school. To convince
parents, school teachers and admins, as well as children themselves, that they
can be social change agents was not an easy task at all. However, after they
see the impact of such an experience on their children’s personalities, they usually
support the concept significantly.
How has your education at Walden influenced how you think
about social change?
The reminder of social change in all discussion posts and
assignments always fosters what I am doing and motivates me to keep moving
forward. Moreover, Walden emphasized the importance of research as a key
element in social change.
What are your strengths in writing? What are your greatest
challenges?
I think my strength in writing is that I often capture the whole
picture when I write about something. However, the fact that English is my
second language makes it sometimes hard to be very expressive and formal.
Can you describe one writing project or assignment that
meant a lot to you in some way?
Actually, they were three assignments: the final projects of
the grant writing course, the annotated bibliography of the Research Theory
Course, and the Public Policy analysis and planning course. The final project of the public policy course
was a great exercise of how to analyze and plan for a public policy in reality.
I am grateful for this exercise as I was able to analyze a very important
policy, which is Family Reunification in Canada. It was a great learning
experience as I was able to analyze and provide solution options based on
literature, similar policies, and commendable practices. This paper was appreciated
by the MP office of the area where I live.
What would you like other Walden students to know? What
advice can you give them as they begin, continue, or close out their degree
programs?
In the two residencies I attended, I advised some colleagues
I met to utilize the services available for them such as the Writing Center,
the library, and the Research Center. I was surprised to know that many of them
have not used the services of the Writing Center yet and some of them did not
know about it. I immediately showed them some papers that I got reviewed by the
writing Center and how the paper was enhanced by the feedback of the reviewer. I
would also advise them to look for the motive that makes them want to
contribute to social change. That motive will guide every aspect in their PhD
Program and how they apply the knowledge and skills they gain to contribute to
the social change of the discipline they are interested in.
What writers do you admire, and what is it about their
writing that interests you?
Zayd
Mutee Dammaj is my favorite writer. He is a Yemeni writer whose novels were appreciated and won prizes internationally. When I read Dammaj, I feel like I am
one of the characters, living their experiences. The way he narrates the story
is very engaging, making the reader visualize what is happening.
What inspires you to write?
At the personal level, writing is like a close friend with
whom I can say what I feel without restraints. Whenever I see something wrong
that needs to be addressed or something rightful that needs to be shared, I
start writing. This writing can be in different forms, such as a post in
Facebook, a study report, a proposal to a funder, etc. In the course of my
career, I contributed to different studies such as the “Country Profile on the
Situation of Children in Yemen,” “Regional Analysis on the Situation of
Violence against Children in Schools in Lebanon, Morocco and Yemen,” a study entirely
led by adolescents on the situation of children using the “Child-led Data
Collection” methodology, national quantitative and qualitative assessment
research on “Violence against children in Schools,” qualitative research on
“Child Marriage, Armed Children and Children in Conflict with the Law in
Yemen.” I also drafted grant proposals to different funders such as the EU, Oxfam,
World Bank, MEPI, UNICEF, Save the Children, and different embassies such as
the US and the Netherlands Embassies.
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