1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 INTRODUCTION

Over the past years, Jordan’s economic growth has been extremely slow, and the labour market has seen high rates of unemployment.

The population structure in Jordan is quite young and the concern of unemployment and job seeking dominates the lives of the youth in Jordan with almost 51.1% of job seekers, both men and women, below the age of 25. [1]

According to the World Bank, Jordan is classified as an upper middle income country [2], in most of its regions, unemployed youth are struggling with harsh living conditions and are becoming a burden on their families and relatives.

The duality of poverty and unemployment is enough to turn any area into a hot spot for criminal activities, drug use and generates endless social problems and tragedies. Ghor As-Safi is no exception in this equation, as the harsh living conditions are severely reflected on the social and family structures of the population.

Despite this, Ghor As-Safi is one of the most important agricultural areas in Jordan due to its climatic nature that enables the cultivation of produce, which many countries cannot grow.

Therefore, this project is an attempt to break the poverty cycle in Ghor As-Safi by equipping the youth with the skills required to compete in the labour market through a vocational training centre which will provide them with a space to train and practice their newly acquired skills, turning them into competent individuals.

[1] Unemployment in Jordan, ISBN 92-9157-453-8, European Communities, 2005. [2] World Bank country classifications by income level, 2022-2023.

1.2 WHY THIS PROJECT?

1. Skilled and qualified youth are an integral component contributing to the development of any region.

There are large companies working in the region that are exploiting the region’s resources and making huge profits such as Arab Potash Company Limited, the Jordan Bromine Company, and the Jordan Magnesia Company. However, these companies need qualified employees, [1] and they classify the residents of Ghor As-Safi as unskilled workers who are only suitable for insignificant jobs such as servants or drivers, therefore they rely on experienced expatriate employees to fill their places. [2]

2. Like all rural areas in Jordan, Ghor As-Safi transformed into a lifeless concrete jungle over the years.

Development projects are often expensive and don’t usually involve the community in the decision making process. The goal behind this project is to build an affordable yet comfortable space that helps improve the living conditions of its users and enable them to dream of a better life for their families.

3. A quick field study, which was carried out by a number of members of charitable and cooperative societies in Ghor As-Safi in a number of residential neighbourhoods in the region, shows that drug users in the region are “from families suffering from extreme poverty.”

To escape the brutality of poverty and destitution, the youth in Ghor As-Safi found a safe haven in consuming drugs and alcoholic beverages, indifferent to the negative repercussions on their health since they are overwhelmed by anxiety and frustration from having a lot of free time. [3] Worried mothers in the area demanded the provision of awareness programs, and the activation of volunteer work among young people by civil society institutions and youth clubs in the region.

4. Residents of Ghor As-Safi are victims of historical injustice and continuing prejudice.

Locals see themselves as “victims of negligence by successive governments” due to the constant failure of development projects in Ghor As-Safi which exacerbated poverty and increased unemployment in the area and they made it clear that large companies are not only evading their social responsibility but are also exploiting the resources of the area without giving back to the local community. Despite being painfully aware of this, the locals are very patriotic and are serving their country in the Jordanian Armed Forces and governmental jobs.

They are usually referred to as “Ghorani” (or “Ghawarneh”), a derogatory term that alludes to their dark skin tone and lower socioeconomic status. [1]

[1] The Politics of Development in Ghor al-Safi, Jordan, CBRL Bulletin 2013, pp. 74-72, https://www.athimar.org/en/articles/details/the-politics-of-development-in-ghor-al-safi-jordan.

[2] Promoting Decent Work in Jordan, https://www.ilo.org/beirut/countries/jordan/WCMS_474549/lang--en/index.htm