The Jordan Times
By Laila Azzeh


DEAD SEA- HRH Princess Basma on Wednesday announced a decision to engage youth in the management of the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development′s (JOHUD) 50 centres across the Kingdom
 

The decision was made during the closing of a three-day forum for youth committees, during which the princess listened to a briefing on their initiatives.
 

Under the decision, members of youth committees will become part of the centres′ financial, development and administrative decisions.
 

The forum, which will be held annually, seeks to apply the idea of social marketing in youth work to promote positive behaviours among local communities and enable young people to identify their development needs and play an effective role in their respective areas.
 

Social marketing is the application of marketing to instigate specific behavioural change for a social good.
 

Princess Basma and the participants held a discussion on their initiatives, which covered tourism, economy, education, political participation, sports and the environment, in addition to means to transform them into reality.
 

These ideas you presented today demonstrate the capabilities and energy you have and the ability to think and look for answers for the challenges society is facing, the princess said.
 

For his part, Higher Youth Council Secretary General Rashad Zu′bi said the initiatives will be studied and incorporated in the 2013-2018 National Youth Strategy, which will be announced before the end of this year.
 

In the tourism aspect, participants came up with a project that seeks to address the negative behaviour of some Jordanians in dealing with tourists, such as exploiting them for financial gain.
 

They also came up with initiatives to improve environment awareness, reduce the culture of shame in work, enhance the level of education and encourage extracurricular activities at schools, in addition to increasing young people′s participation in the upcoming municipal elections.
 

Organised by JOHUD, the annual forum helps the fund in the strategic planning of youth issues.