Khaberni - Khaberni -
Today, Wednesday, The Minister of Youth, Dr. Raed Sami Al-Adwan, participated in a dialogue session on "Youth and Voluntary Work: Partnership Towards a Better Future", which was organized by the Faculty of Arts at Al-Zaytoonah Jordanian University. The session was attended by the President of the University, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Al-Majali, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Dr. Musa Al-Zghoul, the session director Dr. Najwa Qubeilat, a number of faculty deans, department directors, members of the teaching and administrative staff, as well as university students, and representatives of initiatives that won the Hussein bin Abdullah II Award for Voluntary Work.
During the session, Dr. Al-Adwan emphasized that voluntary work in Jordan receives royal attention, stemming from the firm belief that building the individual is the foundation of state building. He noted that King Abdullah II has established this approach by linking volunteerism with development and empowerment and enhancing social cohesion, while His Highness Prince Hussein bin Abdullah II, the Crown Prince, has turned this direction into a practical vision targeting youth and transferring volunteering to institutional paths with a sustainable impact, embodied by the Hussein bin Abdullah II Award for Voluntary Work.
In the same context, Dr. Al-Adwan explained that voluntary work is a deep-seated value in Jordanian society, rooted in the culture of urgent and mutual help. He pointed out that the real challenge lies not in the absence of initiatives but in their organization and institutionalization to ensure sustainability and measure impact.
Dr. Al-Adwan also highlighted that shifting from seasonal and spontaneous volunteering to organized institutional volunteering is a fundamental entry point for development and enhances the ability of initiatives to achieve tangible community impact.
In the institutional framework, Dr. Al-Adwan affirmed that the ministry starts from a deep belief in the capabilities and energies of the youth, and the need for a national framework that leads voluntary work scientifically and administratively, represented by establishing the “We Are” National Volunteering Platform as a reference that organizes and unifies efforts. He explained that the platform has become a comprehensive national information bank for volunteers, covering their skills, specializations, interests, and contributing to directing specialized volunteering linked to local community needs and sustainable development goals.
Dr. Al-Adwan pointed out that volunteering is no longer just about providing service but has become a tool for changing and developing society through preparing youth cadres capable of managing initiatives, building skills, and enhancing belonging.
Dr. Al-Adwan noted that the Hussein bin Abdullah II Award for Voluntary Work represents the motivational arm of the institutional volunteering system, dedicating a culture of impact, sustainability, and quality, enhancing positive competition, and linked to national values and Hashemite leadership.
Dr. Al-Adwan, emphasized the importance of youth's role as they are the targeted category and the main tool for change, stressing the importance of involving them in planning, implementation, and decision-making, pointing out that university students are a fundamental pillar in spreading the culture of volunteering and transforming academic knowledge into an effective community practice.
Dr. Al-Adwan concluded his speech by reaffirming that volunteering in Jordan is part of the national identity, and with the Hussein Award, it has become a clear pathway and a measurable state approach, and that institutionalizing voluntary work is not achieved without partnerships that bring together the ministry with national institutions, the private sector, universities, civil society, and international organizations.
On his part, Dr. Al-Zghoul pointed out that the university gives special attention to volunteering as one of the complementary educational paths to academic work, due to its role in building the student's personality and developing a sense of responsibility and community belonging. He affirmed the college's commitment to integrating concepts of volunteering and community work within its curricular and extracurricular activities, encouraging students to initiate and actively participate in national programs contributing to community service and sustainable development, valuing the partnership with the Ministry of Youth and its role in empowering Jordanian youth and investing their energies purposefully.
Farah Matalqa reviewed the experience of the Joys of Giving Foundation, one of the initiatives that won the Hussein bin Abdullah II Award for Voluntary Work in the category of Best Voluntary Works for Non-Profit Organizations, sharing the foundation's experience in participating in and winning the award, which focuses on bridging the educational gap by supporting college students who face difficulties to ensure that they complete their studies.
In turn, Mohammad Sharif from Deloitte & Touche showcased one of the initiatives that won the award in the category of Best Voluntary Project for Profit Organizations, through the Salesforce Bootcamp initiative, which is aimed at empowering university graduates and bridging the gap between academic education and the job market.
The session also included open discussions on the importance of voluntary work and its significant role in community development, with participation from a group of university students and initiatives that won the award.
