Who we are

2. Who we are The Princess Basma Youth Resource Centre works with young people aged between 10 to 24, from different backgrounds and from all regions in Jordan. The Centre’s vision is to empower young people to use their voices, participate more actively in their communities, and think creatively and critically about themselves and their roles in society. A defining characteristic of Jordan’s population is the youth sector, constituting more than 31% between the ages of 15-29. The latter represents both a great human resource asset as well as a pressing challenge. While the youthful population provide the human capabilities on which future economic and social development count on, it also places demands on scarce resources. Young people require access to health and education services if they are to reach their full potentials as adults.

3. Our Core Commitments • Rights based approach to human development • Expanding choices and opportunities • Enhancing participation and social inclusion • Promoting sustainable livelihood strategies • Promoting effective youth participation, where young people advocate for positive social change

4. Challenges with regard to youth civic participation and rights entitlements • Lack of political awareness • Youth in local communities are more interested in social, cultural and economic rights and find it difficult to access them. • Young people are perceived as naive and not interested in social issues and therefore are not taken seriously • Misuse of power by decision makers and authorities • Lack of awareness on resources available in the country that can help them • Lack of social skills to convince decision makers and elders • Lack of accessible affordable transportation • Lack of clear applications of rights in reality – leading young people to feel de-motivated

5. Challenges with regard to gender and rights with a focus on young women • The widening gap between policies that exist and legal frameworks and the reality of daily life as experiences by women and young women • Son favoring – higher value is placed on boys than girls within families. • From an early age girls are socialized into defined and restricted gender roles • Rights to education are not seen as a priority for girls. • Physical distance to schools, poor transportation and restricted mobility on girls. This causes their parents to not allow them to go to schools. • Early marriage and the pressure to get married for girls

6. Youth Participation • Basic Life Skills – Provide young people withthe skills, knowledge and information that are needed to partake in a knowledge based economy. • Encourage young people to implement youth led initiatives in their respective communities • Youth Advocates – Karak, Madaba and Maan - Encourage young people in implementing, designing and planning youth led initiatives, which in turn would enhance their active participation in their local communities.