UNC Global Affairs organises 'Raise Your Voice' Program in Jordan

• ‘Raise Your Voice’ program welcomes Carolina students
• The program is a two-way exchange organised by UNC Global Affairs
• The program was funded by U.S. Embassy in Amman

In 2025, a two-way exchange i.e., “Raise Your Voice” program took place in Middle East. This exchange was between UNC-Chapel Hill and American University of Madaba in Jordan that has been organised by UNC Global Affairs. In addition, a competitive grant from the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan funded the program.

University of California, Santa Barbara-graduate Gracie Young took part in the program. Following her participation, Gracie spent some time listening to a female producer at a film studio in Amman, Jordan where she understood the importance of empowerment for women within the arts which is a growing outlet for creative expression in the Middle East.

The Morehead-Cain scholar and other Carolina students commuted to Jordan during the program’s first half in May with an intent towards experiencing diverse aspects of lives of women in Jordanian society.

Moreover, the students, excursion, activities and lectures were hosted by a close partner of AUM ‘Sijal Institute’ which enhanced their experience.

Gillings School of Global Public Health’s health behavior department’s associate professor Alexandra Lightfoot also travelled with the students. As per him, the group used one specific research method i.e., photovoice which is a way that can describe what one sees/understands about a community via photography.

Gracie stated, “Women are going to find the way to do something they love and to display it, in any culture, in any society, in any place. The best part of the exchange was connecting with the Jordanian students,” Young said. “It was really cool because my partner conducted the interviews in Arabic and translated for me.’

Furthermore, a DAMES instructor Caroline Sibley added, “Gracie truly grounded a lot of the students in realizing the trip wasn’t about a perfect understanding of something new to them but rather a journey of going deeper into the nuances of collective women’s empowerment.”