Al-Shabab Awalan ("Youth First") is a new MEYI online series that spotlights leading civil society efforts working on youth development in the Middle East. Organizations are nominated based on their commitment to youth and their innovative approaches. The first featured initiative in the Al-Shabab Awalan series is Najah, a Save the Children program which focuses on enhancing employability among Jordanian youth. The Series showcases various multimedia, including podcasts of an interview with the team and “Point of View” articles by youth beneficiaries.

The Najah program, supported by the United States Agency for International Development and Save the Children, aims to increase the employability of Jordanian youth (ages 18-24) through learning by doing, career counseling, workforce placement and experience development, providing support to stay employed, and encouraging community mobilization designed to enhance parental support for youth employment and entrepreneurship.


Najah Objectives

* To build youth life and works skills and promote positive attitudes towards work through non-formal education approaches based on learning-by-doing.
* To link youth to available job opportunities, entrepreneurship and demand-driven skill training.
* To foster the emergence of a 'culture of hope' that supports youth to actively contribute to their own development and that of their community and economy.