Palestinian Affairs Traffic circle. Photo by: Afnan Salahat

The youth of Baqaa camp believe that change is possible and that human security is achievable. In the period from March 2023 to May 2023, a group of young people from Baqaa camp conducted a participatory action research using the Spockler story collection tool. Their aim was to improve and develop the area of the Baqaa camp by learning about the problems the people in the camp suffer from and that threaten their human security. This will lead to the creation of initiatives that will contribute to addressing the problems that threaten human security in the Baqaa camp. The main objective of the research is to improve the living conditions of the camp's residents, especially marginalized groups, by understanding the lived realities of the camp and identifying the dynamics that inhibit the improvement of living conditions in the camp. The research team relied in this research on the methodology of story collection as stories are the way through which people make sense of the world around them. Stories provide information to understand people's lived realities and lifestyles. A second methodology that was relied upon was the analytical description. Several research tools were used, such as the Sprockler story collection tool, focus groups, and one-to-one meetings. The research attempted to answer the following two main questions: How do stereotypes affect the human security of camp residents? What is the reason for the formation of the negative stereotype about the Baqaa camp and what role does the cleanliness of the camp play in the formation of these stereotypes? With their bold steps, these young men and women prove that they are not just witnesses but drivers of positive change. They identified challenges, proposed solutions, and involved camp residents. This research towards achieving human security led by youth of the Baqaa camp invites you to further analysis and reflection.

The story of the Baqaa camp is a story of human security and solidarity. The Baqaa camp is considered as one of the bright faces of the solidarity and steadfastness of Palestinians who lost their homes in the 1948 war. The camp was established as one of the six "emergency" camps in Jordan in 1968 to accommodate displaced people after the 1967 war.

Sprockler's questionnaire, which was used as a participatory research tool, was based on the story question: “Tell us about a story or experience, whether it happened to you or to someone you know, that affected you negatively because you are a resident of the Baqaa camp?” In response to this question, camp residents shared a number of stories expressing the threats they face inside and outside the camp that affect their sense of security. These stories highlighted in particular the stereotypes that camp residents suffer from, which affects their personal lives, directly and indirectly. From the following data, we can learn more about the frequency of these stories and how they affect the sense of self-confidence among camp residents. Click on the points to read the full stories.

The stories collected through the Sprockler tool, allow us to conclude that the stereotypes negatively affect 4 aspects of human security in the Baqaa camp.

Personal security: Camp residents suffer from bullying and ostracism, which deprives them from employment and marriage opportunities. This image not only affects their sense of security, but also their personal security, as they may be surrounded by problems and negative expectations from the surrounding community.

Economic security: It is affected by stereotypes, as some residents are prevented from having access to employment or development opportunities due to them being from the camp. The transmission of misinformation reinforces the negative image of young people, affecting their opportunities in the labour market and exposing them to unemployment and marginalization.

Community security: The media play a role in reinforcing negative stereotypes by displaying inaccurate information and highlighting problems only. This affects the social relations of camp residents and jeopardizes their reputation. Population density and poor infrastructure lead to psychological stress and a sense of insecurity in the camp, increasing community security threats.

Environmental security: Environmental safety in the camp is largely threatened by the problem of accumulation and spread of waste inside the camp, which is the main problem that negatively affects the camp residents and creates a negative image of the camp itself and its residents.

The reinforcement of the negative stereotypes of the camp is due to multiple factors. These factors include poor infrastructure and high population density, which result in an unfavourable environment inside the camp. In addition, inaction by associations may negatively impact human security. Disinformation and propaganda play an important role in the construction of the negative representation of the camp which in turn impedes its credibility. The resulting societal pressure undermines camp residents’ attempts to improve this representation. Moreover, negative actions by some individuals are generalized and lead to the neglect of the positive aspects about the camp. It leads to the adoption of the negative as a key characteristic of the camp. These are common factors that pose challenges for the camp and affect safety and social communication significantly.

In the research, where Sprockler was used to ask respondents about civil society defending human rights, the responses varied between positive and negative. Some participants see the importance of civil society in defending rights, providing protection and promoting human rights in society. The civil society was described as forming a close-knit community that works to achieve a decent life for human beings and provide safety and stability. However, there are negative opinions as well. Some participants did not see an effective impact of civil society on community, and considered them empty slogans with no value or practical impact. Doubts about the organizations' external agendas have also influenced some opinions, but to a limited extent. Precise results were reached after analysing the data. Camp residents are interested in the role of (external) civil society organizations in community development, but their trust in these institutions has been damaged because of their cooperation with suspicious associations. They proposed they open offices within the camp or recruit youth from the camp to participate in the implementation of projects. Respondents suggested the formation of committees that study the needs of the community and include young people, while avoiding cooperation with associations to ensure credibility. They call for resuming dialogue and cooperation with civil society organizations. These results highlight the need for civil society to respond more to the needs of camp residents, and to strengthen trust with them to achieve social and economic developmental in the camp.