Ammon News - Minister of Youth Yazan Shdeifat emphasized the critical role of promoting a culture of volunteerism and organizing volunteer efforts to address local community needs and advance sustainable development goals.

Speaking during a volunteer activity organized by the Ministry of Youth in collaboration with UNICEF and the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) program to mark International Volunteer Day, Shdeifat highlighted initiatives undertaken to enhance volunteerism in Jordan.

The initiatives include programs implemented through youth directorates and centers, the localization of youth initiatives, the Prince Al Hussein Ibn Abdullah II Award for Voluntary Work, and the Volunteer Work Charter, which formalizes the relationship between volunteers and organizations.

The event saw the participation of 100 volunteers from youth centers, the Youth 4 Sustainability (Y4S) initiative, and the WE Platform. Activities included planting 400 trees in Al Hussein Youth City and conducting cleaning campaigns, aimed at expanding green spaces and addressing climate change for a greener Jordan.

UN Resident Coordinator in Jordan, Sheri Ritsema-Anderson, noted that volunteering is a partnership between individuals and communities, fostering tangible societal change. In Jordan, volunteers play a key role in youth engagement and addressing environmental challenges, reflecting collective efforts toward sustainability, she said.

UNV Regional Manager for Arab States, Olga Zubritskaya-Devyatkina, underscored that volunteerism accelerates the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), engaging communities in finding solutions. Petra