Developing Leadership Potential for Jordanian Youth

Empowering youth with the abilities and self-confidence to make a difference has become a necessity - not a luxury – to develop a democratic system of governance in any society.  Developing youth’s strengths, communication skills, resourcefulness, and dependability will prompt the emergence of a generation of leaders working for the greater good, with the sky as their only limit.  The “Project Citizen” civic education curriculum is one vital tool to build civil society competence for students and enable them to effectively engage their government on issues of societal concern.  With support from the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) Local Grants program, the Jordan Center for Civic Education Studies (JCCES) trained 24 Ministry of Education teachers and coordinators from five districts in the south of Jordan on the “Project Citizen” modules in December 2008.  Through a non-traditional teaching methodology that relies on delivering information through group teamwork and interaction, rather than lecture-style, the teachers were able to develop a project on the subject Violence in Schools “in a collaborative social environment,” according to JCCES program officer Nawar Murad.

The trained teachers are very eager to communicate what they have acquired to their students (aged 12-16 years) in government schools, and work with them to identify a public policy problem in their community.  Through a five-step process delivered by the teacher, students will learn to work in teams and network with government officials and community leaders with regard to the problem.  They will research and analyze the issue of concern, evaluate alternative solutions, develop a public policy and action plan to present to their peers, teachers, and community.  “The project takes the students outside the school environment and puts them in direct contact with their community,” Nawar commented.

Nawar is pleased and proud of the project outcomes so far.  The teachers were satisfied  with the workshop, commented positively on the interactive teaching technique, and requested the expansion of this workshop to other teachers.  JCCES is hoping to conduct similar projects for students and teachers in other areas of the country to generate more dynamic citizens who will lead their communities.