Basem Bani Murtada, a pioneering youth figure in Ajloun Governorate

Basem Ahmad Sharqi Bani Murtada is a leading young figure in Ajloun Governorate and a role model for young Jordanians who combine academic knowledge with community commitment and the ability to lead impactful development initiatives. Since graduating from Yarmouk University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in counseling and educational psychology, Basem has chosen to dedicate his expertise to his community, focusing on empowering rural women and youth, and supporting low-income families.

Basem began his volunteer work in 2010, believing that real change starts with individual initiative and fieldwork. Based on this belief, he founded and managed the Al-Hayat Association for Rural Family and Child Development, a development platform aimed at building the capacities of women and youth, enhancing education and training opportunities, and supporting rural families in improving their living conditions through sustainable, productive initiatives.

Driven by his interest in community-based tourism and the local economy, Basem also assumed the presidency of the Tree of Life Association for Rural Tourism Development. In this role, he worked to support small and medium-sized entrepreneurial projects in the tourism sector and to invest in Ajloun’s natural and heritage resources, thereby contributing to the creation of new job opportunities and raising income levels for rural families.

The collaboration with Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development has been a pivotal step in enhancing the performance of the associations led by Bassem. Through the “Rural Women More Resilient in Pockets of Poverty” project, the association received significant support in the areas of institutional development and capacity building, which strengthened its ability to implement development projects with greater efficiency and wider impact.

This investment has contributed to building the association’s capacity to transform ideas into practical programs, expand its impact among women and youth, and launch new productive projects in the fields of sustainable agriculture, handicrafts, food industries, and rural tourism.

Today, Bassem Sharqi Bani Murtada is seen as a model of a young leader who combines knowledge and initiative, investing his energy in serving local development. His story confirms that leadership is not a position, but an ongoing act of creating new opportunities, strengthening the economic resilience of rural families, and empowering women and youth through a clear vision and strong partnerships like those provided by Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development.