Jordan's Al-Farthakh Sports Club was founded in 1982 in Ma'an. Early in 2005, the club applied to participate in the final phase of NEF's (Near East Foundation) Qudorat ("Capabilities") program, promoting more effective community development to combat poverty and unemployment.

Al-Farthakh was one of only 33 Qudorat finalists, community-based organizations selected from among 300 applicants. Club members participated in a rigorous, 18-month, competitive, assessment, training and mentoring process requiring hundreds of hours of their full attention. They had to demonstrate their commitment and ability to successfully improve their own organization, initiate community discussion as well as plan/launch/manage new enterprises.

Only if they could generate income to sustain their organization, create jobs, stimulate their local economy and improve quality of life would they get the necessary seed-money from Qudorat to implement their business plan.

Al-Farthakh Sports Club proposed to establish a male fitness center in downtown Ma'an, near the city's only university and easily accessible from nearby villages. A persuasive point: there was not a single fitness facility for youth and older men in the entire Ma'an Governorate with its population of 100,000. The sole fitness center was a long 40 kilometers away.

A happy story, their good idea received nearly $88,000 of Qudorat support, with $17,000 in additional matching funds contributed by the club. Their new fitness center is fully equipped with training and exercise machines, even a sauna. It has provided new employment opportunities for the residents of Ma'an, in addition to enhancing physical fitness and raising awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Plus, there are even some bodybuilders among the men and boys at work on machines in Ma'an this moment.

YET ANOTHER CLUB

Ebein Eblein was founded in 1982 by a group of young people from Ajloun, eager to promote voluntarism among local youth. They now had 93 active members. They too came up with a solid idea, also entered Qudorat's competition for seed money, and won a coveted slot.

Ebein Eblein Sports Club contributed nearly $50,000 of matching funds and received nearly $62,500 from Qudorat to establish the only nursery in Ajloun. Indoor plants and trees are grown on a recently-acquired, 13,500 square meter plot containing spring well water. They are sold to the general public as well as to other nurseries, commercial landscape gardeners, local government and nearby governorates.

Since the land is located on the main road between Jerash and Ajloun Governorates, club members now are planning to expand their project and build a tourist resort, wedding hall and playground on the same site.

Actually five youth clubs from three governorates qualified for Qudorat-supported income generation. The others were Al-Shoubak Sports Club, also in Ma'an; Ebein Eblein, again in Ajoloun; and Al-Ketteh Sports Club in Jerash.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

Youth clubs in rural Jordan suffer from a lack of investment, affecting their overall performance and contribution, including the many sports, cultural and social events they sponsor. There are shortages of sports equipment, machines, even furniture. Worst of all, youthful ideas and dreams, time and energy, are wasted--a serious loss for Jordanian development.

These clubs are simply handicapped in their expected ability to channel young people into constructive activities. They cannot raise business awareness among budding entrepreneurs. They cannot generate jobs. They cannot prevent juvenile delinquency.

ENTER QUDORAT

A creative, new approach to addressing the problems and needs of Jordanian youth, Qudorat directly invested in sports clubs and youth groups like Al-Farthakh and Ebein Eblein. Qudorat helped them establish the income generating projects which make possible their many sports, cultural, social and other activities.

At the same time, Qudorat encouraged a more proactive involvement of youth in their own job creation, easing the rising level of unemployment among young people in rural Jordan. That was particularly supportive of youthful entrepreneurs, building confidence about starting their own businesses. In addition Qudorat changed often negative attitudes toward volunteerism, another very significant benefit. Also, these income generating activities stimulated local economies, provided valuable services, and contributed to the long-term sustainability of the clubs and their services.

In addition to youth groups, the consortium led by NEF worked with all kinds of community-based organizations--charities, cooperatives, women's groups--in six Jordanian governorates. A second consortium covered the rest of the country. Qudorat is part of the Jordanian Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation's Enhanced Productivity Program.

This is but the latest of NEF's continuing work with Jordanian young people and youth leadership development, a commitment going back to the beginnings of our assistance to that country since the 1930s.

YOU CAN HELP NOW!

Online: www.nefdev.org

Phone: +1 (212) 425-2205