The Agents of Change Center holds a dialogue session at Ajloun University College as part of the “Tawasul: Towards Equitable Political Participation for Rural Youth” project.

The Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development (ICC) implemented a dialogue session in Ajloun Governorate as part of the project “Tawasul: Towards Equitable Political Participation for Rural Youth,” with the participation of representatives from several political parties, young men and women from the governorate, and representatives of local community organizations. The session was held at Ajloun University College

The session aimed to strengthen dialogue between young people and political parties and provide a platform for discussion on the state of youth political participation in rural communities and the challenges they face in engaging in party and public life. It also sought to explore ways to enhance their representation in decision-making positions and develop party programmes that respond to their priorities and aspirations.

At the beginning of the session, Dr. Ayman Freihat, Dean of Ajloun University College and patron of the session, welcomed the attendees and participating students. He paid tribute to the martyrs of the nation and extended his condolences to their families. He also commended the stance taken by Firas Al-Ananbeh, highlighting the values of national belonging and patriotism it reflected. He emphasized the importance of youth participation in such programmes and projects, which provide opportunities to engage with national issues, particularly political participation and party engagement, an area receiving increasing attention at the present stage.

For her part, Nadia Al-Rubdhi, Director General of the Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development (ICC), emphasized the importance of partnership and dialogue among different segments of society, noting that political empowerment and youth participation in national affairs are key priorities. She added that young people are an active force in driving positive change and contributing to decision-making, stressing that their meaningful participation is essential to strengthening democratic practices and advancing development pathways. She also expressed her hope that the session would serve as an open and constructive space for exchanging ideas and identifying practical approaches to support youth political empowerment and strengthen their leadership presence within political parties and community institutions.

For his part, Suhaib, the Project Manager, explained that the “Tawasul” project is grounded in the belief that dialogue is fundamental to building reform pathways based on political awareness and cooperation. This is achieved by providing dialogue spaces that bring young people together with political parties and promote recognition of youth as political and party leaders capable of participating and making an impact. He highlighted the importance of strengthening youth representation within party structures in line with the political modernisation process and the recommendations of the Royal Committee, emphasizing that the project seeks to provide safe spaces where young people can engage with decision-makers, voice their priorities and challenges, and work towards incorporating them into political and party agendas.

The session featured contributions from representatives of the participating political parties. Haifa Al-Taifour, representing the Jordanian National Union Party, spoke about the role of political parties in supporting young people despite the limited levels of party membership. She emphasized the importance of young people choosing parties that align with their perspectives and convictions, and the need to overcome hesitation about joining political parties amid the national drive to strengthen party life.

For his part, Yousef Al-Aroub, representing the Jordanian Future and Life Party, highlighted the importance of raising awareness among young people and the wider community about the role of political parties. He emphasized that having political parties present in governorates strengthens their visibility and community engagement, and contributes to implementing ongoing programmes that attract young people, encourage party membership, and promote active participation.

For his part, Dr. Ahmad Batoush, representing the Jordanian Reform Party, emphasized the importance of unifying efforts among political parties regardless of their different orientations, based on the shared goal of serving Jordan’s interests. He stressed the need for political parties to develop the political skills of women and young people through their programmes and activities.

Suleiman Al-Qudah, Head of the Ajloun Branch of the Jordanian Azm Party, also spoke about the importance of youth participation in political meetings and dialogues to learn about political parties, their programmes, and priorities. He stressed the need for parties to develop programmes capable of attracting young people and responding to their aspirations. He noted that some young people view party engagement as a secondary concern, given that their priorities are often linked to securing employment opportunities. This, he explained, requires political parties to clarify the importance of political participation and introduce programmes that contribute to developing young people’s leadership capacities. He also emphasized the importance of building political identity among young people, strengthening partnerships between political parties and academic institutions, and engaging university students in political activities and dialogues.

For her part, Ms. Nadia Ananzeh, a member of the Political Council of the Jordanian Change Party, explained that the party’s mission is centred on supporting and promoting political participation and driving meaningful change through programmes and policies that deliver measurable outcomes. She also highlighted the party’s role in strengthening youth engagement through targeted programmes and activities, including field schools designed to reach at least 40 young men and women from Ajloun Governorate.

During the discussion, Dr. Ahmad Al-Momani from Jordan University of Science and Technology raised a number of questions regarding the issues currently addressed by political parties and their relevance to young people’s interests, what parties can offer to youth, the nature of the services they provide to the community, and the extent to which they respond to its needs and aspirations.

At the conclusion of the session, dialogue facilitator Ahmad Al-Rabab’ah emphasized the importance of political parties taking more proactive steps to address young people’s priorities and needs, and working to develop programmes and practices that strengthen their political participation and ensure more equitable and influential representation in public life, in line with Jordan’s Political Modernisation Vision.

This session was held as part of the project “Tawasul: Towards Equitable Political Participation for Rural Youth,” implemented by the Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development (ICC), in partnership with the Anna Lindh Foundation and with funding from the European Union. The project aims to strengthen youth political participation in rural communities, provide spaces for dialogue and interaction between young people, political parties, and decision-makers, and contribute to bringing youth priorities and aspirations into political agendas while enhancing their role in public life.