His Majesty King Abdullah has advised the country's youth against apathy and lack of initiative.

In a letter on the occasion of the International Youth Day, the King advised the young generation to be aware of regional challenges that are leaving their impact on Jordan and to demonstrate broad-mindedness regarding economic issues.

In the letter, published today in Al Rai daily's youth supplement, His Majesty said the We are All Jordan Youth initiative, which was built on recommendations made by last year's We are All Jordan forum, was designed to activate the role of youth and “break the stagnation and lack of initiative” through spurring young people to take the lead in efforts to achieve the envisaged change and modernization.

Following the forum, King Abdullah directed the government to establish the “We are All Jordan Youth Commission” to enhance young people's role in socio-economic and political plans. He said then that members of the commission should support youth-oriented programmes and initiatives at the national level, with the aim of building “a generation of young leaders who are able to take Jordan to advanced stages of prosperity, modernization and development”.

The commission comprises representatives of governmental and civil society institutions.

In the letter, the King said: “We are ambitious that such an initiative would mature to yield other accomplishments, which, in turn, would lead to the rise of a young leadership capable of taking the initiative,” and making a difference to the life of fellow Jordanians.

The King renewed his commitment “to providing unlimited support to the youth”, and urged them to entrench a national youth culture to be passed from one generation to another.

“Our collective national identity, which is the backbone of the state, needs enthusiastic and committed young people to revitalize the state towards renaissance.”

The UN General Assembly on December 17, 1999 endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, August 8-12,1998) that August 12 be declared International Youth Day.

The assembly recommended that public information activities be organized to support the day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth to the Year 2000 and Beyond, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995.

The UN seeks this year to rally support and get governments, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, businesses and young people to carry out activities designed to encourage young men and women to be fully engaged in issues related to the development of their societies.

The Jordan Times