Ammon News - Over 500 Jordanians aged 18-25 have responded to the EU-funded "Social Innovation Challenge" that seeks the empowerment of the youth through supporting their innovative projects for incubation and further support.

The Challenge, implemented by Expertise France (EF) and IBTECAR Consulting, is urging the youth to step up and shoulder their responsibilities towards their local communities by developing ideas and initiatives that would tackle social issues and improve welfare, according to an EF statement.

The Head of the EF Social Protection and Decent Work Unit, Thibault van Langenhove, said, "Giving young people the opportunity to participate in this Challenge is evidence that government institutions, especially the Ministry of Social Development, consider them an important part of solving societal problems by finding optimal, modern, and innovative solutions and projects."

A total of 110 applicants were selected to work in 27 teams through the Local Challenges in the Karak, Jerash and Amman pilot areas.

These teams worked on their ideas for innovative projects that would benefit their local communities and presented them to local juries. Five teams were qualified for the next stage: the National Challenge, the statement reads.

Each of the 15 teams preparing for the National Challenge has received intensive ‘boot camp’ training. The training covered topics such as the process of design-thinking, which includes empathy, challenge validation, prototyping and testing.

General Manager of IBTECAR Jamil Khatib said the Social Innovation Challenge is part of the EU Support to Social Protection in Jordan Programme’s comprehensive approach to social protection by empowering the youth to find constructive solutions that serve their communities.

The projects target youth empowerment, social cohesion, empowerment of persons with disabilities, economic empowerment of vulnerable groups, realising the local economic potential of tourism and gender equality, which feed into Jordan’s stated priorities and strategic goals.

The Challenge seeks to help build a sustainable community of social innovators for the future, able to create value and impact through distinctive projects that empower them and their communities.

The Social Innovation Challenge was launched by EF and IBTECAR as part of the Civil Society Organisations Component of the EU-funded "Support to Social Protection Programme in Jordan" in partnership with the Ministry of Social Development.