Irbid: The "We Rise" Center for Sustainable Development in Irbid has launched five community initiatives under the "Youth Connections" project, implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and supported by the British Council. Director General of the Center, Amer Abu Dalou, emphasized that the launch aligns with Royal directives and national strategies, highlighting the pivotal role of youth in driving sustainable change at the local level.
According to Jordan News Agency, these initiatives were crafted based on comprehensive research and studies conducted in collaboration with decision-makers in the governorate. This approach ensures that the initiatives align with national and local priorities and translate expert recommendations into tangible programs with measurable impact on the community.
Executive Director of the Center, Marah Rawashdeh, elaborated that the initiatives emerged from a participatory planning process grounded in local needs assessments. This ensures integration, effective implementation, and long-term sustainability while embedding governance, inclusivity, and sustainability standards. The aim is to produce scalable and replicable models.
Rawashdeh detailed the initiatives, starting with "The Citizen Is a Partner," which aims to enhance local governance and participatory planning in municipalities. This includes developing a data-driven community studies system to improve decision-making and align municipal plans with citizens' priorities. The initiative is being implemented in municipalities such as Khalid Bin al-Walid, Bani Ubaid, and West Irbid, in partnership with the Ministry of Local Administration.
The second initiative, "Humanitarian Discourse," seeks to foster social cohesion through professional media content founded on human rights and legal standards. It includes a journalism competition to enhance the capacity of journalists and content creators to produce in-depth reports that promote diversity and social cohesion, in collaboration with the Jordan News Agency and the Faculty of Media at Yarmouk University.
The third initiative, "Pulse of the Camp," focuses on community-based urban development in Irbid Camp by repurposing underutilized spaces into safe, youth-friendly environments. This aims to strengthen social belonging and reduce environmental and social risks, in cooperation with the Greater Irbid Municipality and the Camp Services Committee.
The "Mobile Digital Clinic" initiative raises awareness of cybersecurity and digital protection, enhancing youth resilience in the digital space through mobile training services and a national study to measure digital safety indicators. It is executed in partnership with the Ministry of Youth, the Irbid Youth Directorate, and the Business Development Center.
Finally, the "Bridge of Competencies" initiative targets the alignment between education and labor market needs by developing a national employability readiness guide. It aims to enhance career pathways and employability skills and link youth with opportunity platforms in the public and private sectors, in cooperation with the Irbid Labor Directorate, the Irbid Chamber of Industry, and the Business Development Center.
Rawashdeh expressed confidence in the youth's ability to lead these initiatives, emphasizing that investing in their capacities is crucial for achieving comprehensive development, strengthening partnerships with decision-makers, and enhancing social stability in alignment with long-term national visions.