As part of its efforts to enhance youth civic participation, the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD), launched on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, the activities of the “Hope is a Picture that’s Worth a Thousand Words” project, specifically the “Jabal Amman: Past, Present and Future” competition, which seeks to represent Jabal Amman’s past, present and future through young photographer’s eyes.
According to the competition criteria, 25 young men and women, selected by a specialized committee, out of 63 applicants, will participate in dialogue sessions with field experts on issues of urban planning, environment, tourism, social and cultural fabric, and economy, under the guidance and direction of the Renaissance Strategic Center’s team in ARDD. Where the selected applicants will join five focus groups on these issues to produce a policy brief that will shared with decisionmakers and stakeholders to enhance dialogue and contribute to sustainable development in the Jabal Amman area, in addition to share their photos in an exhibition.
In turn, Nadine Khoury, Project Manager at ARDD, explained that this project, which is supported by the Swiss Embassy in Jordan, would help young people create a larger space that allows them to participate through art in their communities. She emphasized the importance of this initiative in enhancing the skills of new generations, and highlighting the role of culture and arts in addressing societal issues in order to contribute to enhancing governance, sustainability and participation in identifying needs.
For her part, Marah Khayat, consultant at ARDD, who will work with the youth throughout the project, explained that art is an influential tool in youth civic engagement on various social and cultural issues, and in raising awareness of rights. She stressed that forms of artistic expression, such as photography, murals, and public performances, allow young people to build deep connections with their communities, encourage dialogue within them, and promote social change within their communities.
