Name: Donia  Marwan Aqel

Country: Jordan

Age: 23

Job: Youth Activist

Since high school I have focused on building a real-world experience. As a volunteer with the different activities of the King Abdullah Fund for Development (KAFD) and my larger involvement with the National Youth Strategy of Jordan and the All Jordan Youth Commission / Think Tank Team, I’ve been encouraged to challenge and expand my perceptions of the social and political aspects of the country. Field research days, meetings with local politicians and many visits to underprivileged areas of Jordan have all been valuable and stimulating experiences, allowing me to engage in the development strategies of this area driven by my growing curiosity and commitment towards a better tomorrow.

Following my passion, a few years later I became co-founder of a regional youth group (Third Eye Team) and a co-founder of East-West Initiatives. Both experiences allowed me to blend critical awareness of regional and international development with a solid grounding in the nature of international conflicts; This blend helped me to expand my perspective on building social harmony among local and international groups by encouraging dialogue, building the capacity of individuals, enhancing participation in community service and engaging in social and political reforms in our countries. After graduation, I became more involved with the Jordan Think Tankers, a group of young Jordanians: bloggers, writers, activists, and advocates. Our experience was Insightful. We tried to highlight the importance of political participation, parliamentary elections and the new laws, among other concerns. These experiences, along with my time as a volunteer, have highlighted the coherence and health of Jordan’s civil society; and how a climate of progressive political and social change can give rise to a new era of better quality of life.

Working with United Nations Relief and Works Agency in the Near East (UNRWA), at the relief and social services in Jerash Refugee Camp, I have gained the most important experience where the development of people and community is affected by human conflicts. While most Palestinian refugees have been granted Jordanian citizenship and enjoy full rights of citizenship, the refugees that originally came from the Gaza Strip suffer many legal complications. My job as a Projects Manager at the Community Development Office, which operates under UNRWA, is a response to the general poor living conditions in Jerash Camp, poverty, unemployment and legal restrictions.