A holistic program, implemented through our long-term local partner, Department of Services to Palestinian Refugees (DSPR), is helping young Syrian and Palestinian refugees build hope-filled futures.
Forsa (meaning opportunity) for Youth engages young refugees who are in extreme poverty, supporting them and their families through a sustainable program that builds their self-reliance and skills to develop reliable sources of income and independence.
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According to DSPR Program Manager, Alaa AlSalaiti, youth in Jordan face a complex range of challenges.
“High unemployment, limited access to quality education, gaps in vocational and life skills, and social barriers often undermine their confidence and future prospects.”
~Alaa
“Many also experience financial instability at the household level, which can impact food security and limit their ability to plan for long-term personal and professional development. These factors combine to create significant obstacles for youth seeking to contribute meaningfully to their families and communities.”
Forsa for Youth addresses these challenges over an 18-month program where participants receive home visits, career counselling, life skills, finance, and technical and vocational training. Further support is provided through referrals to support agencies, savings and loans groups, and assistance to create individual livelihood plans and job matching, along with access to community protection services.
The results are remarkable, with many participants and their families able to budget and save money, and with career support, training and mentoring, they have started new jobs or businesses.
Participants like Salma* have seen significant progress since joining Forsa. Salma was passionate about photography but didn’t have the means to make an income from her hobby. She learned savings skills and financial management.
Salma also enrolled in an advanced photography course online and an information technology course and saved money to buy a tablet to edit her photos.
Thanks to Forsa for Youth, she has turned her passion into a profession.
“Through the training and lectures that we took, it increased my self-confidence… it taught me how to manage time, how to deal with pressures, problems and risks, and all of this helped me and taught me how to manage my life and project and reach the local market.”
~Salma
Alaa explains how the transformations they are witnessing through the program are multi-layered.
“Young people are gaining practical, market-driven skills, building confidence, and moving from dependence to self-reliance, while families are achieving greater economic stability through income-generating activities, improved financial management, and active participation in savings and loan groups,” he says.
“Women are increasingly taking active roles in their households and communities, becoming more aware of gender roles and equity, and challenging traditional norms. Youth are stepping into meaningful work and mentoring opportunities. The program also strengthens mental health, family relationships, and social networks, while providing protection and urgent support for families in need.”
DSPR had already implemented the Forsa program in Syrian and Palestinian refugee populations in Jordan with our support, and the success of the mainstream program prompted the youth-focused follow-up program.
Now, multiple generations are experiencing transformation with families like Zara*’s all benefitting from the program.
Zara was motivated by her mother’s ambition to establish a home-based production kitchen as a source of income to improve the family’s financial situation. Zara wanted to support her mother’s business by promoting it through social media, but she knew she needed the right skills and tools to succeed.
Through Forsa for Youth, Zara enrolled in an e-marketing course. She gained valuable skills in marketing, photography, and customer targeting, which helped her manage and promote her mother’s business online. Zara saved money from her earnings and purchased a phone so she can produce high-quality photos and videos.
“I noticed significant personal growth throughout the training and lectures,” says Zara.
“I’ve gained more knowledge, acquired valuable information, developed my personality, and become much more confident in using electronic devices.”
~Zara
~ Forsa for Youth Program Manager, Alaa AlSalaiti
Act for Peace gratefully acknowledges the support of the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).
Learn more about the Forsa Youth Program below:
*names changed for privacy