Ammon News - Finn Church Aid (FCA) and HelpAge International (HAI) on Tuesday hosted a closing ceremony to celebrate the conclusion of the Dutch funded Municipal Business (MUBU) project.

The project supported the economic empowerment of youth from vulnerable communities across Jordan.

Launched in 2019, the MUBU project supported vulnerable Jordanian and Syrian refugee youth with livelihood opportunities through a holistic family approach. The project was implemented in the six governorates of: the Greater Jarash, Junaid, Za’atari and Manshieh, Dhlail, Sahab and Mahis. The project links to the decentralized agenda of Government of Jordan as localized support ensures sustainability and utilize local resources, FCA said in a statement.

Over the projects two-year implementation period, 256 individuals were supported to establish their own home-based or retail business. In addition, 162 women and men, out of which 70% are youth, from the local communities were employed at these businesses, the statement added.

"Youth are at the heart of the Netherlands development cooperation and we take pride in MUBU for not only providing youth with training and skills workshops but also empowering them to form peer-to-peer advisory groups," said Ambassador of the Netherlands to Jordan Harry Verweij during the ceremony.

The MUBU project also aimed to reduce the economic and social burden on young people who are taking care of people with disabilities (PWDs), and elderly family members by providing them with home care support, social and health services, and a referral to other partnering social and health service providers.