Consortium launched to strengthen at-risk youth’s resilience

AMMAN — The Social Development Ministry on Thursday signed a cooperation agreement with World Vision and Questcope to implement “Youth Resolve”, a consortium aimed at strengthening juvenile resilience and empowering youth as leading actors in post-conflict reconstruction and reconciliation in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. 

Funded by the MADAD EU Regional Trust Fund, the project will enable the Social Development Ministry, community based organisations (CBOs), juvenile centres, police departments and local governmental universities to team up to establish social support centres targeting a total of 3,500 at-risk youth between the ages of 12 and 18.

Spanning over six governorates, the initiative will include monthly activities among trainers and volunteers alike, with a focus on developing social cohesion, vocational maturity and positive relations between juveniles and the elderly, providing youth with access to an open environment to freely express themselves and acquire new skills. 

In addition, the project will respond to the social and personal needs of at-risk youth by promoting social interaction, problem solving and educational support. A family counseling programme will also provide the required psychosocial and educational support for the families of detained youth. 

Concerning schooling, a total of 500 trained volunteers will provide learning opportunities for youth outside of the formal educational system, coupled with other activities such as special case management, mentoring programmes, communication skills workshops and psychological counseling.

During the signing ceremony, Social Development Minister Hala Lattouf noted the ministry’s intention to “prepare a strategic plan based on the results of the implementation in order to ensure the continuity of the project in the long term,” stressing the importance of “cooperation and partnership with civil society and non-governmental organisations in supporting and developing the ministry's programs in all areas of its work”.

World Vision General Manager Stephen Schwartz thanked the EU for its support through the MADAD fund, pointing out the “extreme importance” of juvenile resilience in the current Jordanian context. 

“I feel very lucky and blessed to be here today to sign this agreement,” Schwartz continued, expressing hopes to “strengthen the collaboration with partners to achieve something good for Jordan”. 

Regional and Jordan country director of Questscope  Muthanna Khriesat noted: “What is unique about this agreement is its potential to build the capacities of the ministry’s staff and university students to create a connection with at-risk youth through mentoring relationships that will help them become effective members of the community.”