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By Madeleine Mezagopian

Observing Jordan’s youth and wondering where they are heading with their dreams and ambitions, how they perceive their path to secure a decent life with basic necessities met if not with some space for pampering oneself with few luxury items.

Sad, frustrated, disappointed and somehow prematurely aging youth is what one mainly encounters in the streets of Jordan. However, recently one equally observes a glimpse of hope.

Omar, a handsome young male with innocent smile, sells bakery stuff in a mall in Amman with professional touches securing the required hygiene which surprises the client. A behavior justified not only by the good training of those in charge of human resources at the mall. But equally expected behavior from Omar, who has embraced the right path towards progress and coming close to realizing his dreams through combining graduate studies in architecture, which further polishes his skills and behavior, with vocational work which not only secures an income but further acquaints Omar with the realities of life helping him to better understand life and cope with its challenges.

Mohammad’s passion for art and appreciation of beauty inspired and motivated him to study interior design while experiencing and dealing with art through working from early age as flowers arranger and salesperson where his charm and social skills surely act as an added value not only for him to advance in his present work but equally better prepare him for a future with distinguished social skills and hands on experience.

Luckily, Omar and Mohammad do not represent an orphan case in Jordan’s youth not abandoning their ambitions and dreams, while putting aside the culture of shame and respecting all sorts of labor where they themselves can dignify the type of services they render and the work they carry out.

Young male and female Jordanians are increasingly joining different working sites while proceeding with their studies or choosing it as a stage in testing the career they want to have.

Surely, for a country like Jordan where tourism stands as its main source of national income and which is in dire need for upgrading its touristic services. Witnessing more and more Jordan’s ambitious, talented, skilled and hardworking youth being present where it affects Jordan’s image such as restaurants, take-away chains and gifts shops represents an added value and a glimpse of hope. A hope to be translated into a wider reality through vocational training centers and colleges more aggressively advertising on their role in equipping Jordan’s youth with the required and diverse skills to join the labor market and reaching Jordan’s youth who will always remain Jordan’s pride and hope .


* * Madeleine Mezagopian is an academic researcher, adviser, and analyst in the field of conflict resolution, peace, and socioeconomic and political development. She contributed this article to Ammon News English.