Youth make their voice heard, aspire to become engine of growth

AMMAN — Better economic conditions, more job opportunities and participation in decision-making are some of the top aspirations of the Jordanian youth as country celebrates its centennial.

Jordan is characterised by a young population with about 63 per cent of it less than 30 years old. This human capital can be a great asset to Jordan in the years to come, according to reports.

On the occasion of Jordan’s centennial, Ghaleb Mohammad, a 19-year-old Jordanian, expressed his hope for a better economy in the future. “I am looking forward to graduate from university and be able to work and make a difference. I hope that there will be better opportunities for youth as the country embark on its second centennial,” Ghaleb told The Jordan Times.

According to Abdallah Abdoh, training manager at the International Federation of Liberal Youth, the current pandemic has presented many obstacles for the young generations, but the real challenge is the “identity crisis” that these generations could be experiencing. Nevertheless, Abdoh believes that the current generation has learned important lessons from the pandemic crisis and that they will be able to apply those lessons in future challenges as needed.

Eman Mehyar, a 24-year-old Jordanian woman, indicated that she is working to secure a better future for herself and her family. “I have a plan to establish a family business and contribute strongly to the economy to help it prosper,” Mehyar told The Jordan Times.

Youth are an integral part of every society, Ahmad Jamal, a 23-year-old Jordanian said.

“Young people are the powerhouse of any country’s development. In Jordan, youth are largely overlooked, especially in decision making positions,” he said.

Yet, Jamal expressed a more optimistic view of the future: “ I hope that there will be better opportunities available for the youth in the future and that they will be able to reach their full potential.” he added.