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Duke University

Publication Date

Spring 2019

Program Name

Jordan: Geopolitics, International Relations, and the Future of the Middle East

Abstract

The research question for this study is to investigate the role of youth empowerment programs in providing equitable access for students at public and private schools in Jordan. Given the differences in education cost, quality, and outcomes between public and private schools; students are exposed to different levels of engagement opportunities within school systems. At the same time, the youth population is the engine of Jordan’s future growth. Understanding the role of external youth empowerment program providers is important to further education quality and equity.

The research includes six interviews with program providers and survey results from University of Jordan. The research hypothesis is that youth empowerment programs plays a positive role in balancing, if not reducing, the education inequality seen in Jordanian society through external program provision. Upon analysis, the research concludes that although there have been major growths in the number and quality of youth empowerment programs, there are still substantial obstacles and challenges on the policy, financial, and social front that prevents further improving access to youth empowerment programs. The paper analyzes common trends among current organizations and identifies key challenges to focus on in the future. The research contributes not only to the academic literature on youth empowerment programs in Jordan, but highlights three key areas for organizations to focus on in the applied settings.

Disciplines

Civic and Community Engagement | Development Studies | Near and Middle Eastern Studies | Secondary Education | Social and Cultural Anthropology | Social Welfare

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