Mubarak Ricky worked with the Humanitarian Collaborative as a researcher in Jordan, bringing both professional experience and lived experience of displacement to the evaluation team.

Q: What was most meaningful to you about working on the evaluation and with refugee populations?
“What was most meaningful to me about working on the Amna evaluation was seeing how Amna approaches partnership with refugee-serving communities. Rather than simply transferring its own system to community partners, Amna invests in training, mentorship, and capacity building, treating partners as collaborators and equipping them to develop systems that reflect the unique needs of their own communities. This creates more meaningful and sustainable relationships and allows organizations to better understand and serve the people in their care.

On a personal level, this work was deeply important to me because, as a refugee myself, I have spent more than ten years working with refugee communities, advocating for their rights, and amplifying their voices. The Amna evaluation allowed me to contribute in a new way, through research and evaluation that could directly improve mental health and psychosocial support services for displaced populations. The experience reminded me that evaluation is not just about collecting data; it is about listening to people’s stories, understanding their challenges, and recognizing their resilience. What stayed with me most was the strength, adaptability, and hope participants demonstrated despite the difficulties they have faced. It also strengthened my commitment as a researcher to approach this work with empathy, cultural sensitivity, and deep respect for the voices and lived experiences of refugee communities.”

Q: What did you learn, or how did you grow, during the research process?
“During the Amna evaluation, I have learned that building relationships with communities is just as important, if not more important, than collecting data itself. Many people in refugee communities are carrying difficult experiences and emotions, and before they can share their stories, they first need to feel safe, respected, and genuinely heard. This process taught me that meaningful research begins with trust and human connection. That is what allows community partners to truly understand and serve their communities more deeply and compassionately.

One of the most powerful parts of this experience was working with the PhotoVoice project. Through that process, I saw firsthand how transformative relationship-building can be. Many of the children began calling me “ عمو مبارك” (uncle Mubarak) or “ أخي مبارك” (my brother Mubarak). For me, those moments meant far more than titles; they reflected trust, comfort, and a sense of belonging. It showed me that participants were not only engaging in the research process, but also feeling safe enough to express themselves openly and authentically.

Professionally, this experience strengthened my ability to balance rigorous research methods with empathy and cultural sensitivity. It reminded me that behind every data point is a human being with lived experiences, resilience, and hopes that deserve to be approached with dignity and care. I learned the importance of listening deeply, asking thoughtful questions, and creating spaces where participants feel empowered to share their voices. Personally, the research process deepened my sense of purpose and responsibility. As someone with lived experience connected to displacement, I became even more committed to ensuring that refugee voices are represented accurately, respectfully, and meaningfully. This experience helped me grow more confident in bridging advocacy and research, and it reinforced my belief that research can be a powerful tool not only for generating knowledge, but also for fostering healing, understanding, and more compassionate support for refugee communities.”

Q: What would you recommend to organizations considering working with researchers with lived experience?
“Although the research ended after the completion of the second phase and we were unable to continue into the third phase, the experience still gave me valuable insights and strong recommendations for organizations considering working with researchers who have lived experience.

One of my strongest recommendations is that organizations should meaningfully involve researchers with lived experience as equal partners throughout the research process, not only as consultants or outreach workers. Researchers with lived experience often have a deeper understanding of the community, its culture, and the realities people face every day. Because of these shared experiences, community members are often more comfortable speaking openly and honestly. There is a feeling of “we are in the same boat,” which helps build trust, safety, and confidence in sharing personal stories and emotions. That trust ultimately leads to richer, more authentic, and more meaningful data.

One of the most important lessons I learned from the Amna evaluation is that lived experience strengthens both the quality and the humanity of research. Researchers who have experienced displacement or worked closely with refugee communities often understand the unspoken realities, cultural sensitivities, and emotional complexities that may otherwise be overlooked. This creates research practices that are more ethical, respectful, and community-centered. I would also encourage organizations to invest in supporting and mentoring researchers with lived experience instead of limiting them to symbolic or short-term roles. Providing opportunities for leadership, training, and professional growth allows them to contribute more fully and helps build long-term capacity within communities themselves. Most importantly, organizations should approach this work with humility and a willingness to share power. When researchers with lived experience are genuinely valued and included in decision-making, research becomes more than just data collection. It becomes a collaborative process that amplifies community voices, strengthens relationships, and creates outcomes that are more impactful, compassionate, and sustainable.”

Q: What are you working on now, or what would you most like to work on next?
“Right now, as a refugee myself, I continue to dedicate my work to supporting refugee and displaced communities through advocacy, community engagement, education, leadership, and research. My lived experience has shaped not only my understanding of these communities, but also my commitment to creating spaces where people feel heard, valued, and empowered. In my current role as a Program Officer at the Collateral Repair Project (CRP) and as the co-founder of Sawiyan for Community Development , I focus on developing programs that build bridges between refugees and host communities. The goal of these initiatives is not only to provide support, but also to create opportunities for people to share their knowledge, stories, cultures, and lived experiences with one another. I believe that meaningful change happens when communities connect through understanding, dignity, and shared humanity.

A core value in all the projects I create is ensuring that they are both safe and brave spaces, spaces where people feel seen, appreciated, validated, and comfortable expressing themselves authentically. Creating environments where individuals can belong and be themselves is deeply important to me, especially for communities that have experienced displacement, exclusion, or trauma. My experience with the Amna evaluation further strengthened my passion for community-centered and trauma-informed research, particularly projects focused on mental health, psychosocial support, and amplifying refugee voices in meaningful and ethical ways. It reinforced my belief that research should not only study communities, but also empower them.

Looking ahead, I would most like to continue working on projects that combine research, storytelling, advocacy, and community engagement to create lasting impact for refugee communities. I am especially passionate about initiatives that empower refugee youth, create opportunities for leadership and self-expression, and foster a stronger sense of belonging. I also hope to continue expanding participatory approaches such as PhotoVoice, where community members are not simply research participants, but active contributors whose voices help shape the process and outcomes. I also hope to challenge the common perception that refugees are only receivers of aid. Refugees are also contributors, leaders, innovators, and changemakers. What many refugees need is not pity, but opportunity. When doors are opened and people are given access to education, leadership, and meaningful participation, refugees are fully capable of making significant contributions and creating positive impact within communities and societies.

At the same time, I hope policymakers around the world will create more pathways for refugee resettlement to third countries. Based on my own lived experience, I believe that durable solutions are essential for refugees to rebuild their lives with dignity, safety, and stability. While humanitarian assistance and temporary support are important, they often remain short-term responses to long-term realities. Refugees need opportunities for a future where they can truly belong, grow, and contribute fully to society. In the future, I hope to take on more leadership roles in research and community-based programs led by people with lived experience. For me, the most meaningful work is work that recognizes the strengths, resilience, and potential within refugee communities and invests in their long-term ability to create change for themselves and future generations.”