Mohammad Khaled Mohammad; A successful young man in the making

19 years-old Mohammad comes from a small under privileged area in the middle of Amman. He has 12 brothers and sisters; his father is a retired army soldier and his mother a housewife. His father’s small salary supports all 12 members of the family.

As many youth in his age, Mohammad had many hobbies and dreams; football, running the track and maybe following his father’s footsteps in joining the military. Another dream was to become a famous; he never thought his dream may come true due to his family’s economic situation and the fact that he didn’t finish high school. When he learned of the Youth Career Initiatives program he took the chance, applied and got accepted; he remembers being very nervous thinking that he stands no chance but luckily the hotel saw his potential.

After finishing the intensive six months training, Mohammad realized that he has changed tremendously; he entered the program being very defensive and unwilling to change his way of thinking, and had no communication skills.

Now he is willing to share knowledge with his colleagues and friends. He has adapted communication skills from the people around him, but most of all he feels responsible. He now likes to teach kids how to handle a tough situation, he says ‘the program is not only teaching one person, it is teaching his brothers and sisters; I liked to practice what I learned at home, and I had no idea that they were learning too’.

During and after the program he attended English and computer skills classes.
Mohammad is currently a full time employee at the Sheraton Hotel Amman, Jordan. He is working in the kitchen; and is receiving a very good salary and earned the respect of his colleagues and supervisors.

‘I would have had no future if it wasn’t for the YCI’. He says.

Success Story: Ameena surmounts the Challenges and Attains her University Degree

Known for its success, the Silver traditional Jewelry project of the ladies of Al-Anbat Cooperative in Wadi Mousa offers 20 employment opportunities for women from the local community, resulting in improving their standard of their living.
Among these women is the exceptional story of Ameena Al-Hasnat, who in spite of her social and economic situation succeeded in overcoming the challenges she faced. Ameena’s story illustrates the important role of civil society organizations in developing and providing needed social services. Facing economic difficulty, Ameena had to work in the Ladies of Al-Anbat Cooperative as a trainee earning only JD 20 per month. As a result of her persistence and commitment to her work, the cooperative sent her to participate in various training courses; now she is the quality control supervisor in the project.

However, Ameena’s ambitions did not end there. After improving her salary working in the cooperative, Ameena decided to pursue her dream and continue her higher education to attain a university degree. She enrolled in Al- Hussein University and managed her time between university and her job at the cooperative. Although Ameena was working and studying at the same time, her ambition resulted in her graduation within 3 years with a bachelor degree
in Education. Today, Ameena still works with the Cooperative, investing in the entity that invested in her and paved the way for her to realize her dream.

Ameena’s story reflects the typical challenges facing many women in rural and badia areas yet, more importantly, it is a full proof that women can surmount the various social and economic challenges they face when empowered and given
the opportunity to do so.