Amman, Sept. 9 (Petra) — Deputizing for HRH Prince El Hassan bin
Talal, honorary president of the El Hassan Youth Award, Minister of
Education and Human Resources Development Azmi Mahafzah on Wednesday
launched the Sabelat El Hassan 2026 program, with the participation
of 65 young men and women from 20 universities and colleges across
governorates.

Mahafzah, speaking at the ceremony attended by officials, academics,
and members of the award’s board of trustees, stressed the importance
of investing in young people, saying that investing in their energy
and capabilities was an investment in Jordan’s future and
development.

He said Sabelat El Hassan was one of the distinguished programs
launched by the Hassan Youth Award and was not merely a youth program
but an integrated experience that enabled young people to learn from
life and the field, interact directly with society, discover Jordan
through its environment, history, and diversity, and build
relationships based on cooperation and teamwork.

The impact of the experience extended beyond what participants
learned during the program to their lives after it ended, helping
build self-confidence, national belonging, initiative, creativity,
responsibility, and the ability to work collectively, Mahafzah said.

Such values and skills could not be acquired through theoretical
knowledge alone but were developed through experience, practice, and
challenge, he added.

Jordan’s civilizational and historical heritage, diverse environment,
and cohesive society provided an open arena for learning and
self-discovery, Mahafzah said, expressing confidence that every stage
of the program, every experience, and every challenge overcome would
add new experience to participants’ lives and instill lasting values.

Addressing the participants, he said they represented not only
themselves but also their universities, colleges, and governorates,
and a generation on which great hopes were placed in Jordan’s
nation-building journey.

He urged them to live up to that responsibility and make the Sabalat
experience an opportunity to discover their abilities, broaden their
horizons, serve their communities, and strengthen their belief in
their ability to shape the future.

El Hassan Youth Award Director Khawla Al-Hassan said Sabelat El
Hassan was not simply a journey or a temporary activity but an
integrated youth experience linking knowledge with practice and
belonging with responsibility, while providing a space for learning,
discovery, and initiative.

The program builds on a journey that began in 1991 to promote the
values of belonging, community service, and character-building and
translates the El Hassan Youth Award’s vision of empowering young
people and promoting the values of development and citizenship, she
said.

The 13-day program offers an integrated youth experience combining
experiential learning, field training, exploration, and interaction
with national institutions and local communities, promoting the
values of belonging, citizenship, teamwork, and responsibility.

It includes visits to archaeological and tourist sites, as well as
national, economic, and media institutions.

The program also features lectures and awareness workshops on
entrepreneurship and innovation, countering extremist ideology, the
safe use of social media, cyber extortion, drug prevention,
citizenship, and acceptance of others.

Cultural and community activities include community policing theatre,
volunteer work, dialogue sessions on youth issues and activities
related to the Great Arab Revolt, strengthening participants’ ties
with local communities and translating the concept of community
service into practical action.

Field training and adventure activities include mountain rappelling,
taekwondo, hiking and climbing Jabal Umm ad Dami, aimed at developing
participants’ physical and psychological capabilities and
strengthening self-confidence, discipline and team spirit.

//Petra// AF