QRFCC is an Arab model of a community centre that adopts an "ecological model" which rests on the premise that preventing child abuse requires going beyond attempting to change individuals' behaviour. JRF works instead to foster a broad social context that adopts "a culture of prevention" and that respects Jordanian traditions. To that end, QRFCC attempts to ensure that strong community networks and healthy families serve to support vulnerable members of society. The Center's facilities themselves reflect this strategy in that they are designed to stimulate interaction, exploration, and learning by all who spend time there. For instance, the setting includes open playgrounds designed to fulfill the developmental needs of children in all age groups, as well as internal courtyards meant to host family gatherings/conversations in a safe and secure setting.

QRFCC programmes use a variety of communication strategies to enhance the self-control, self-confidence, and wellness of family members. Interpersonal exchanges designed to share information and build capacity are one such tool, and are meant to reach parents, community leaders, professionals, paraprofessionals, religious leaders, and members of youth groups. For instance, QRFCC offers lectures addressing the basic concepts of child rights and protection; efforts are made in these sessions to create a common ground where all segments of the community and civil society organisations involved in child welfare can join forces, together establishing an understanding of - and a culture supportive of - child rights and initiatives designed to foster their protection. Similarly, through its training programmes, QRFCC strives to equip adults (e.g., primary caregivers and professionals working with children from all sectors) with skills and practices that will enhance their capacity to care for their children and/or to engage in advocacy or community mobilisation around issues of child rights and protection.

QRFCC's work also engages children and adolescents directly in programmes that draw on participatory, creative, "edutainment" activities designed to raise awareness and build skills and self-confidence. For example, the Center reaches out to adolescent girls through life skills programmes, information technology (IT) training courses, and one-on-one sessions in which female mentors communicate information on puberty/adolescence in a friendly manner. In working with younger children, QRFCC develops programmes that are based on a participatory approach to learning where all senses are involved in an interactive process. Children are not "taught" through lectures; instead, they are encouraged to be self-learners who can deduce knowledge through real-life experiences and situations. For example:

• The Salhouf Tales Series is a puppet show developed in collaboration with both experts and children that is designed to spread awareness about child rights, self-protection from abuse and neglect for children 4-10 years of age.
• The Arts for Child Safety Project is a joint initiative between JRF and the Ministry of Education which involves use of various art materials including puzzles, posters, photographs, paintings, and puppets, as well as a collection of music and poetry by Jordanian and Arab artists.
• The Interactive Library is a space for 6- to 14-year old children where they are encouraged not to "be quiet" (as in many traditional libraries) but - rather - to talk to each other and to move about freely. Here, children are guided in narrating observations in their daily environments and sharing opinions on appropriate reactions to situations they have already lived or may face. Creative and simple story-writing are supported with illustrations portraying the daily lives of children while interacting with their friends, teachers, neighbours, siblings and parents.
• The Arts and Handicraft Workshop and the Drama and Expressive/Emotive Arts Workshop are both designed to give tools for self-expression and self-protection.

One illustration of how QRFCC combines several of the above-mentioned strategies in specific public awareness events is the organisation's efforts to mark the World Day for Prevention of Child Abuse on November 19 (2005). Four orientation workshops were held in an effort to give caregivers (teachers, counselors, mothers, etc.) specific information on understanding, recognising, preventing and dealing with child abuse; however, the focus was more centrally on involving children. Specifically, 3 presentations of The Salhouf Tales Series puppet show for children, teachers, parents and professionals to spread prevention awareness. A discussion followed so that children and caregivers could reflect their understandings of the various forms of abuse and learn how to protect themselves. Key messages included: always trust your feelings; it is healthy to express and communicate your feelings; discussion is an alternative solution to physical punishment and it is not wrong for adults to apologise. A creative writing session followed which stimulated children to practice the knowledge they learned from the puppet show by creating their own skits about the various child abuse scenarios. In addition, a workshop was conducted in which children expressed words for songs that carried clear and positive messages emphasising the importance of communication within families. As part of the activities, children were given T-shirts that had the title of the Day on one side and a picture of the puppet Salhouf on the other, in order to foster remembrance of what they learned in the workshops.

Children, Youth, Rights, Health.

Jabal Al-Nasser (where QRFCC is located) suffers from multiple risk factors including unemployment, poverty and lack of education for children.

QRFCC is motivated by the conviction that preventing child abuse is the responsibility of the entire community; parents should not be left alone in the sometimes difficult task of raising children. Organisers believe that most parents want to be good parents but they lack the know-how to deal with stressful situations or how to cope with loss of temper. Furthermore, QRFCC believes that family wellness is more than the absence of conflict; it is, rather, achieved in the presence of supportive, affectionate, and gratifying parent-child relationships, as well as a home environment that is conducive to the positive development of children. To that end, QRFCC services are integrated with support for families, adult learning, and broader community/professional development efforts.

QRFCC was one of two first-prize winners in the 2006 Women's World Summit Foundation (WWSF) Prize for Prevention of Child Abuse.