RASIT
Royal Academy of Science International Trust
Royal Academy of Science International Trust
| بأحـرف الشـبـــاب |
Youth and Young adults has promoted change and embraced innovative values by being the initiators of social
movements that have given rise to cultural and social transformations throughout history. The Arab society is a largely
youthful one. As the percentage of youth in world populations is dropping, the Arab world is witnessing the opposite:
around 60% of Arabs are below the age of 25.
The main constraints Arab young people face in taking action include doubts about how and where to begin, limited
confidence in their ability to make a difference, inadequate monetary resources, competing demands on their time,
insufficient encouragement from peers, and a lack of political and community support.
Recently Arab young people have made it abundantly clear that they want to be involved in society development and
decision making.
For Arab young people to be successful in driving change they require a role model and a strong support system that
includes parents, teachers, community, the Government, the private sector, the media, and civil society. Existing
infrastructure and social systems are not always supportive of positive change. Many systemic barriers do exist that
effectively preclude meaningful civic engagement among youth.
Although youth involvement is widespread and the value of youth participation is internationally acknowledged, the idea
that giving Arab Youth a role in society can lead to better policy outcomes is far from being accepted. The rights and
decision-making capacities of Arab young people often remain unrecognized, and their potential as a valuable resource is
seldom realized.
Generally, even in countries that acknowledge the need to provide young people with opportunities to participate in the
policy-making process, youth involvement tends to be highly restricted; the views of young people are sought, but they are
not allowed to influence decision-making and therefore remain on the fringes of democratic processes. Such restrictions
can weaken the potential of young people as agents of social change.
In Arab States, the gap between intent and reality in youth empowerment is not surprising because decision making
mechanisms are rarely set up to allow ordinary adult citizens, let alone young people, to participate in decision-making
processes. Consequently, young people—who are typically at a relative disadvantage in terms of power and influence—
may find it impossible to secure a formal place at the decision-making table. Official recognition is essential, but true
institutionalization will occur only when youth participation in decision-making becomes embedded within the system and
is viewed as the norm. Unfortunately, Arab young people are nowhere near achieving this level of empowerment; they are
often denied participation in decision-making processes where their unique perspectives and innovative ideas could be
integrated toward more effective policies.
Frustrated Arab youth have three options: Freeze and accept their conditions, Fight the status, or take Flight and leave their
countries. The predominant tendency seems to be waiting for education, housing, marriage, employment, and credit. But if
Arab youth are in waiting mode, what is it that they do? What drives their energy? And what other social and political
challenges do they face? Arab Youth needs role models, aspirations, dreams, and hopes. They need to be heard.
With this knowledge and in the spirit of recognizing their positive contributions to society, Arab Youth should be
encouraged and supported to take part in community development endeavor by making their voice heard.
For this reason Enwan Journal is created!
movements that have given rise to cultural and social transformations throughout history. The Arab society is a largely
youthful one. As the percentage of youth in world populations is dropping, the Arab world is witnessing the opposite:
around 60% of Arabs are below the age of 25.
The main constraints Arab young people face in taking action include doubts about how and where to begin, limited
confidence in their ability to make a difference, inadequate monetary resources, competing demands on their time,
insufficient encouragement from peers, and a lack of political and community support.
Recently Arab young people have made it abundantly clear that they want to be involved in society development and
decision making.
For Arab young people to be successful in driving change they require a role model and a strong support system that
includes parents, teachers, community, the Government, the private sector, the media, and civil society. Existing
infrastructure and social systems are not always supportive of positive change. Many systemic barriers do exist that
effectively preclude meaningful civic engagement among youth.
Although youth involvement is widespread and the value of youth participation is internationally acknowledged, the idea
that giving Arab Youth a role in society can lead to better policy outcomes is far from being accepted. The rights and
decision-making capacities of Arab young people often remain unrecognized, and their potential as a valuable resource is
seldom realized.
Generally, even in countries that acknowledge the need to provide young people with opportunities to participate in the
policy-making process, youth involvement tends to be highly restricted; the views of young people are sought, but they are
not allowed to influence decision-making and therefore remain on the fringes of democratic processes. Such restrictions
can weaken the potential of young people as agents of social change.
In Arab States, the gap between intent and reality in youth empowerment is not surprising because decision making
mechanisms are rarely set up to allow ordinary adult citizens, let alone young people, to participate in decision-making
processes. Consequently, young people—who are typically at a relative disadvantage in terms of power and influence—
may find it impossible to secure a formal place at the decision-making table. Official recognition is essential, but true
institutionalization will occur only when youth participation in decision-making becomes embedded within the system and
is viewed as the norm. Unfortunately, Arab young people are nowhere near achieving this level of empowerment; they are
often denied participation in decision-making processes where their unique perspectives and innovative ideas could be
integrated toward more effective policies.
Frustrated Arab youth have three options: Freeze and accept their conditions, Fight the status, or take Flight and leave their
countries. The predominant tendency seems to be waiting for education, housing, marriage, employment, and credit. But if
Arab youth are in waiting mode, what is it that they do? What drives their energy? And what other social and political
challenges do they face? Arab Youth needs role models, aspirations, dreams, and hopes. They need to be heard.
With this knowledge and in the spirit of recognizing their positive contributions to society, Arab Youth should be
encouraged and supported to take part in community development endeavor by making their voice heard.
For this reason Enwan Journal is created!
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