Youth Dialogue Session in Ajloun Discusses Education, Employment, and Human Rights Issues with the Participation of the Board of Trustees of the National Center for Human Rights.
The Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development, in partnership with Sawt Ajloun Community Radio, and in cooperation with the German Rosa Luxemburg Foundation and members of the “Rural Youth Political Safe Space”, organized a youth dialogue session that brought together members of the space with the Chairperson and members of the Board of Trustees of the National Center for Human Rights. The meeting aimed to discuss ways to adopt the recommendations outlined in the two policy papers related to the education and employment sectors, and to explore mechanisms for their implementation and for enhancing their impact on policies and practices in line with the principles of human rights, social justice, and equal opportunities.
This meeting comes as part of the project’s efforts to enhance youth political and civic participation and to establish sustainable channels of dialogue between young people, decision-makers, and national institutions. It aims to amplify youth voices and recommendations on national and local priority issues, while strengthening their role as active partners in development and public policymaking.
The Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the National Center for Human Rights, Ms. Samar Al-Haj Hassan, emphasized the importance of directly listening to citizens and young people and conveying their lived realities, considering this an essential component of human rights work. She noted that human dignity is the overarching principle under which all rights fall, including the rights to work, education, and the rights of persons with disabilities. She further stressed that the National Center for Human Rights is an independent institution that continuously monitors the human rights situation and works to ensure that the voice of every citizen seeking their rights reaches the relevant authorities. Al-Haj Hassan also highlighted that such dialogue spaces, which provide young people with the opportunity to express their concerns and priorities, serve as a gateway to the future and contribute to strengthening their meaningful participation in decision-making, while fostering communities that are more responsive to their needs and aspirations
For his part, Mr. Jamal Al-Shamayleh emphasized that promoting human rights awareness and culture is a fundamental pillar in building trust between national institutions and local communities, noting that such trust is a shared responsibility that requires commitment from both institutions and citizens alike. He pointed out that water scarcity remains one of the most pressing challenges facing Ajloun Governorate, highlighting the need to strengthen national efforts to address this issue and ensure citizens’ right to access essential services. Al-Shamayleh also stressed the importance of inclusive education as an integral component of human dignity, ensuring that persons with disabilities have equal and comprehensive access to educational opportunities. Furthermore, he affirmed that young people are key partners in shaping public policies and decision-making processes, emphasizing that no policy or decision can achieve lasting success and sustainability without meaningful and effective youth participation, as they are the leaders of the future and agents of change.
Ms. Nahla Al-Momani emphasized that the violation of any human right inevitably leads to the violation of other interconnected rights, noting that challenges related to inclusive education require participatory dialogue and joint monitoring efforts with local communities. She added that violations of the rights to education or work have a direct impact on individuals’ ability to exercise their political and social rights, stressing that the Center will work to highlight and follow up on the recommendations presented within its upcoming programs, particularly those related to school transportation issues raised as priorities in the policy paper.
For his part, Dr. Mohammad Al-Qudah indicated that Ajloun Governorate possesses promising opportunities in the agriculture and tourism sectors that have not yet been optimally utilized, stressing that improving transportation and mobility services is a key entry point to addressing many of the developmental and economic challenges facing the governorate. He also highlighted the importance of enhancing investment in the agricultural sector and improving educational and health services in peripheral areas, within the available mandates and resources.
Ms. Nisreen Zreigat emphasized the importance of dialogue spaces that provide young people with the opportunity to express their issues and priorities, noting that many of the recommendations contained in the policy papers converge around key issues, most notably transportation and access to services. She also stressed the importance of working through integrated approaches that include legislative, training, technical, and governance dimensions, affirming the National Center’s readiness to cooperate with the Intermediaries of Change Center in implementing awareness programs targeting youth and enhancing their participation in public affairs.
For his part, Dr. Fadi Miqdadi stated that Ajloun Governorate holds an advanced position on Jordan’s tourism map and possesses significant potential in tourism, agriculture, and human resources. He noted that supporting small and medium-sized enterprises represents one of the key solutions to addressing economic challenges and creating job opportunities. He also emphasized the importance of involving young people in proposing solutions and presenting initiatives capable of making a tangible economic and developmental impact within their local communities.
Ms. Rawan Barakat emphasized that achieving fairness in the distribution of opportunities requires greater attention to governorates experiencing high unemployment rates, particularly among women. She noted that some social barriers may have a stronger impact than economic or environmental ones, especially regarding the inclusion of persons with disabilities. She called for strengthening flexible and remote work opportunities, as well as developing supportive services for inclusive education and healthcare across different regions.
For her part, Dr. Lina stated that the issues raised by young people during the dialogue reflect a real situation that deserves follow-up and proper addressing, noting that the protection of human rights is closely linked to economic and developmental issues. She explained that addressing unemployment challenges requires strengthening coordination between the public and private sectors and higher education institutions in order to reduce the gap between educational outcomes and labor market needs. She also commended the role of youth initiatives in enhancing coordination among different stakeholders and in conveying citizens’ voices to decision-makers.
The Executive Director of the Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development, Mr. Sufian Ahmad Rababah, stated that this meeting reflects the Center’s vision of strengthening dialogue and participatory engagement between youth, national institutions, and decision-makers, while providing young people with a direct platform to present their issues, challenges, and proposals to relevant stakeholders.
He emphasized that the Center believes sustainable development cannot be achieved without the genuine and active participation of youth in all stages of planning, policymaking, and decision-making.
Rababah added that the Center works to empower youth, women, and local communities through capacity-building programs, community dialogue, and networking with official institutions and civil society organizations, thereby promoting active citizenship and reinforcing the values of participation and social responsibility. He explained that the Center is committed to transforming local community needs and youth aspirations into practical initiatives, policy papers, and actionable recommendations, ensuring that citizens’ voices reach decision-makers.
He further noted that Ajloun Governorate has significant potential in agriculture, tourism, and the local economy; however, optimal utilization of these resources requires investment in youth and the development of infrastructure and essential services, particularly in transportation, education, and employment.
He pointed out that over the past years, the Center has implemented several initiatives and projects aimed at empowering youth and women and enhancing community and political participation, believing that building strong communities starts with empowering individuals and ensuring equal opportunities.
Rبابعة also stressed the importance of continued cooperation between civil society organizations, official institutions, and the private sector to develop sustainable solutions to local challenges, affirming that dialogue and participatory approaches are the true entry point to achieving development and social justice.
He praised the role of the National Center for Human Rights in monitoring and defending human rights conditions, emphasizing the importance of continuing such dialogue sessions that bring citizens and youth together with national institutions, thereby strengthening trust and ensuring that issues and recommendations reach the relevant authorities.
He also commended the partnership with Sawt Ajloun Community Radio, the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, and all supporting partners in achieving the project’s objectives.
For his part, the Project Manager of the “Rural Youth Political Safe Space” initiative, Ahmed Abdel Qader, stated that the project aims to enhance youth political and civic participation, and to build their capacities in dialogue, advocacy, policy paper development, and constructive engagement with public issues, through providing a safe space that enables young people to freely and responsibly express their views and discuss the challenges facing their local communities.
He explained that the two policy papers discussed during the meeting were the result of a participatory process led by the youth themselves, based on extensive dialogue sessions and consultations with young people, stakeholders, experts, and relevant entities in Ajloun Governorate. The aim was to identify the key challenges related to the education and employment sectors and to formulate realistic and implementable recommendations.
He added that the project seeks to build bridges of communication between youth, decision-makers, and national institutions, while following up on the recommendations and working to adopt them and translate them into practical measures and public policies that contribute to improving the reality of young people and enhancing their participation in development and decision-making.
The meeting was attended by a number of stakeholders, representatives of official institutions, and decision-makers from the Directorates of Labor, Social Development, Employment, Endowments, Youth, Environment, Agriculture, Health, and Education, in addition to representatives of youth centers in the governorate. Participants emphasized the importance of strengthening partnership and coordination between government institutions and civil society organizations to address the challenges facing youth and local communities. They highlighted the need to develop the transportation and mobility system as a shared priority that directly affects access to education, employment opportunities, and essential services. They also stressed the importance of enhancing employment and vocational training programs, linking education outcomes with labor market needs, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, and making better use of Ajloun Governorate’s agricultural and tourism potential. Furthermore, they called for strengthening inclusive education and improving health and environmental services in a way that positively contributes to the overall quality of life for citizens.
Members of the “Rural Youth Political Safe Space” indicated that the policy papers were developed through a series of youth-led dialogues and consultations with various community groups and stakeholders in Ajloun Governorate. These discussions clearly reflected the key challenges facing young people in the education and employment sectors. They emphasized that improving transportation and mobility services is an urgent priority due to its direct impact on students’ and workers’ access to educational opportunities, employment, and essential services. They also called for strengthening the alignment between education outcomes and labor market needs, as well as developing vocational training and qualification programs to better equip young people with relevant skills.
Members of the space also stressed the importance of supporting inclusive education and strengthening the rights of persons with disabilities in accessing educational and health services, as well as employment opportunities. They highlighted the need to expand job opportunities for youth and women and to support entrepreneurial initiatives and small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in promising sectors such as tourism and agriculture. They further emphasized the importance of enhancing youth participation in public policymaking and decision-making processes by providing sustainable dialogue spaces and institutional mechanisms that ensure their meaningful engagement in national and local issues.
The meeting concluded with an emphasis on the importance of continuing dialogue between youth, national institutions, and official bodies, and strengthening partnership in the development of public policies and the follow-up on the implementation of the proposed recommendations. This is aimed at ensuring social justice, equal opportunities, and the promotion of human rights and sustainable development in Ajloun Governorate.
It is worth noting that the “Rural Youth Safe Space” project is implemented by the Intermediaries of Change Center for Sustainable Development in partnership with Sawt Ajloun Community Radio and in cooperation with the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation. The project aims to provide a sustainable youth space to enhance civic participation among young people in rural areas.
