Amman, November 29 (Petra) - The Ministry of Social Development and the El Hassan Youth Award signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Saturday to enhance joint cooperation in developing quality youth programs and empowering the groups under the Ministry's care, particularly orphans and those who have lost family support in the Ministry's care homes.
According to a Ministry statement, the agreement was signed by the Minister of Social Development, Wafaa Bani Mustafa, and Director of the El Hassan Youth Award, Khawla Al Hasan.
Bani Mustafa stressed that the signing of the MoU aligns with the Royal patronage extended to orphans and those without family support, noting the Ministry's commitment to providing a safe and stimulating environment for these young people and enhancing opportunities for their empowerment and integration into society.
She praised the Ministry's partnership with the El Hassan Youth Award, describing it as an outstanding national model for supporting youth and refining their skills.
The MoU includes four main packages: exchange of knowledge and specialized visits, implementation of joint projects, organization of youth events, and development of training and development programs. It also gives priority to beneficiaries of protective and residential care homes to benefit from the Award's programs, including the "Siraj" project, in addition to enabling them to use the Award's Tabarbour Camp for their activities.
For her part, Al Hasan affirmed that the MoU reflects the spirit of cooperation among national institutions to serve youth. She explained that the "Siraj" project is implemented with the support of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award and aims to develop the skills of care home participants at the Bronze and Silver levels of the Award.
She added that the project has provided participants with an interactive learning experience that contributed to enhancing their leadership and practical skills and developing their capacities for critical thinking and teamwork.
In another context, the Minister of Social Development sponsored the graduation ceremony for the participants in the first phase of the "Siraj" project at Princess Sumaya University for Technology (PSUT), attended by the Director of the Al Hussan Council, retired Major General Nasser Al Mahairat, the Vice President of PSUT, Osama Al Badarneh, and a number of members of the Award's Board of Trustees.
The ceremony saw the graduation of 38 participants who completed the requirements for the Bronze Level, preparing for the transition to the Silver Level, from Um Al Hussein Society, Dar Al Ihsan, and the SOS Children's Villages Association of Jordan.
The ceremony included a documentary presentation of the project's key stages and activities, including training programs, camps, and volunteer activities, as well as a theatrical performance by the Community Police from the Public Security Directorate, simulating the danger of drug abuse and its impact on youth and society.
At the end of the ceremony, the Minister of Social Development and the Director of the El Hassan Youth Award distributed certificates to the graduates, expressing their pride in their achievements and emphasizing the importance of continuing such programs that promote the values of belonging, giving, and active citizenship among youth.
//Petra// AF
