EUVP visit story - Widad Shafakoj

Are you considering applying for a EUVP visit? Ever wondered how EUVP programmes are organised and what their outcomes are? Follow the “EUVP visit stories”, featuring unique reports and testimonials from those who have joined us at the heart of the EU!

Ms Widad Shafakoj is a humanitarian activist and a prolific filmmaker from Jordan with an impressive portfolio: through her work directing documentaries, she has been able to tell unique and touching stories that could have otherwise remained invisible.

“Ever since I graduated, I have made films about Jordan and children in it from orphans to refugees, in addition to unfairly detained women and more”, Ms Shafakoj explains on her film studio’s website.

The EUVP had the pleasure of organizing Ms Shafakoj’s visit to the European institutions in 2018 and today we would like to take a look at her study tour and how it has since impacted her professional career.

Respecting Ms Shafakoj’s expertise and interests, most of her meetings during the EUVP visit were themed around communications, media, and her home country, Jordan. The more political end of the meetings dealt with topics such as refugees, education, and human rights.

Looking back, most influential of the meetings were with officers from the European External Action Service (EEAS) who formed a lasting relationship with Ms Shafakoj. The highlight of this co-operation was the EEAS officers’ visit to Jordan to produce together with her a series of videos to tell the stories of Syrian refugees in the country. This is how she explains her experience: 

Throughout our filming, we visited many Syrian heroes, in their respective homes, and their workplaces, in Zaatari camp and outside of it. We were able to document beautiful stories that give hope to many other Syrians struggling to find their path.

Ms Shafakoj best remembers getting to present the story of Farah, a six-year-old girl living in the Zaatari refugee camp, to a large audience of the Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region. She highlights how important these stories are to understand that behind every statistic there are real people and their tragedies.

You may watch the results of this work: videos presenting Farah and other everyday heroes of Syria on the YouTube channel of the EEAS.

Ms Shafakoj affirms that the EU Visitors Programme “has been an incredible experience that has opened many doors for me”. The EUVP is always touched to hear when we have been able to support and promote young promising leaders like Ms Shafakoj in their valuable work making a positive impact each in their own field. Large thanks go also to the EU officials who meet with our visitors and engage in long-lasting professional contacts with them, resulting in many meaningful and fruitful cooperation projects.