Jordan- EU funding set to tackle tensions in Syria Crisis countries

(MENAFN- Jordan News Agency) Amman, Mar.25 (Petra) -- A group of leading aid agencies responding to the Syria Crisis have launched a two-year project to ease tensions among refugees and communities in neighbouring countries, with funding from the European Union (EU).

The "Youth Resolve" project will see new grassroots programmes launched in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq. They aim to empower young people across the region and reduce the risk of radicalisation with job skills training, education, and new community clubs and committees to bring young people from different backgrounds together.

The projects – run by CAFOD and Caritas Lebanon, Generations for Peace, Islamic Relief, Questscope and World Vision – are supported by the EU's Regional Trust Fund known as the "Madad" Fund.

Alexis Adam de Matharel, who heads up the Youth Resolve consortium, said: "Young people often flee violence in Syria, only to find new types of social conflict and troubles in their new country." "An influx of so many millions of refugees has caused huge strain not only on infrastructure, but it has also fractured many parts of society with tensions boiling over," he added.

"A huge amount is being done to tackle the immediate physical needs of refugees – but the social and emotional needs are often overlooked", de Matharel noted.

He indicated that the aid agencies involved in this new project have years of grassroots experience in tackling these issues, "and we're setting out to make a tangible difference to young people's lives by addressing root causes rather than symptoms." Michael Kohler, Director for the Neighbourhood South at the European Commission's DG NEAR, stated: "With this programme we bring together both refugees and youth from host communities in new community clubs and committees in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq." He added: "They will receive job skills training and education. Thus, a new generation of girls and boys will learn how to constructively engage with each other and obtain important tools to become masters of their own future." According to A "Madad" Fund statement, young people aged from nine to 25 will get involved in the projects across the three countries, reaching more than 100,000 people.

In Jordan, the statement added, generations for Peace, Questscope and World Vision will provide a range of programmes including remedial classes, informal education, livelihoods, and working to support young people, including those in contact with the criminal justice system.

Community-based organisations will play a role in social cohesion, and promoting positive relationships. Family counselling programmes, and psychosocial and education support will also be provided, the statement noted.

President of Generations for Peace, Mohanned Al-Arabiat, said: "Building on Generations For Peace's 10 years of experience of youth-led conflict transformation around the world, the Youth RESOLVE initiative is a wonderful opportunity to work with our respected partners to engage youth more holistically, to strengthen resilience and social cohesion, reducing violence and vulnerability to extremism, in communities in Jordan and Lebanon facing enormous pressures amidst the Syrian Refugee situation." ead of World Vision Jordan, Steffen Schwarz, said: "Young people's futures hinge on the education they receive right now. Schools in Syria may have been physically destroyed during the war, but we can't allow students' dream of an education to be shattered too. Our Youth RESOLVE programmes allow young people to catch up on lost ground, giving them the best chances in life." AF
25/3/2018 - 07:22:12 PM

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