Jordan Times
Wednesday, November 15, 2006

King reiterates confidence in youth, calls for increased participation in development process

By Hana Namroqa

AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Tuesday expressed his confidence in the country’s youth to contribute to implementing economic and development programmes that seek to combat poverty and unemployment.

During a meeting with members of the We are All Jordan Youth Commission at Basman Palace yesterday, the King urged them to step up their participation in the country’s development process.

Stressing the importance of communication, the King proposed arranging for similar meetings every month to review achievements and demands.

The Monarch reiterated his faith in the young citizens’ potential to come up with answers to the economic and regional challenges facing Jordan. He also expressed his support for projects and recommendations suggested by them.

Hamza Omoush, a member of the youth commission, said the panel would form working groups in different parts of the Kingdom to unify the younger generation’s demands and proposals in order to motivate them to engage in the development process.

He added that in order to maintain channels of communication with young people and uncover their creative capabilities, the commission would work in cooperation with the King Abdullah II Fund for Development to encourage the youth to express their ideas on different issues and challenges facing them. The panel has adopted a new strategy called “Youth Think Tank” to accomplish this objective.

The commission members thanked the King for his support and involving young people in the reform process, noting that such initiatives motivate them to become more active members of society.

The We are All Jordan Youth Forum, held in September, gathered 700 young people representing various regions of the country.

Following the forum, King Abdullah directed the government in October to establish the ‘We are All Jordan’ Youth Commission to enhance young people’s role in socio-economic and political plans. He said members of the commission should support youth-oriented programmes and initiatives at the national level, with the aim of building “a generation of young leaders who are able to take Jordan to advanced stages of prosperity, modernisation and development.”