Youth initiative to promote ‘intellectual reform’

 

19-April-2012

 The Ministry of Youth and Sports on Wednesday announced the launch of the "Ride with Us" initiative, which is aimed at “intellectual reform” and improving the way young people think.

Minister of Youth and Sports Mohammad Qudah said that the ministry decided to implement the initiative, which will be carried out in cooperation with the Iqraa TV channel, to build on young Jordanians’ dedication to reforms in the Kingdom.

"Young people now are mature and have discovered their real capabilities, so we decided to launch this initiative to improve the way they think," Qudah said during a press conference at Al Hussein Youth City.

"The ministry's responsibility is to focus on youths and the way they think. My duty is to develop their way of thinking and reform it. Unfortunately, some young people are depressed and full of hatred and that will hinder them from achieving positive accomplishments," the minister added.

Qudah stressed that political reform cannot take place without intellectual reform.

Alaa Tamimi, a representative of Iqraa, explained that the channel invited various Islamic scholars, who have positively influenced young people, to take part in the initiative, which will take place from April 15 to April 19.

"Ride with Us will consist of several lectures by these scholars such as Mohammad Arifi and Aed Qarni and other scholars who are popular among young people," Tamimi told reporters during the press conference.

Qudah, who will also give lectures in the initiative, explained that these talks will take place in several parts of the Kingdom so that many people can benefit from them.

"We will provide transportation for those who wish to attend these lectures," he said, adding that some lectures will take place at universities in the morning to enable young people to take advantage of them, while others will take place at night so that other segments of society can also benefit from them.

"We want to transform people's aspirations and hopes into reality," the minister said.

The organisers did not provide a full list of topics to be covered in the initiative, but Qudah indicated that violence in universities would be addressed during the lectures.

"We are working on another initiative that will reward successful students and teachers at universities," he added.

Tamimi indicated that if the initiative produces tangible results, they will consider holding it annually.