Islam's story
From insecurity to
independence - Read about how an internship supported by Denmark's partner
Oxfam IBIS helps young people excel into the labor market in Jordan.
It is not easy for a recent graduate like me to find a job without previous work experience, especially not when so many people lose their jobs due to the pandemic
Like many other
graduates, Islam hoped to find her dream job in the field of her studies, but
this can be a difficult task for a young woman in Jordan with no previous work
experience. The 22-year-old, who has a bachelor's degree in medical laboratory
science, graduated with a lingering anxiety of what the future would bring.
"I was very
optimistic about reaching the goal of my academic journey, but at the same time
I was very worried about not being able to find a job and practice what I have
learned," she says.
The concern of Islam
was real. During first quarter of 2020 youth unemployment in Jordan reached 48
percent. This trend, which increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, has made
Islam even more anxious about her future.
"It is not easy
for a recent graduate like me to find a job without previous work experience,
especially not when so many people lose their jobs due to the pandemic,"
Islam explains.
“I started looking for
volunteer work in different laboratories and places, with a hope of finding a
place that would let me work without pay. None of these sites were able to employ
more people, including trainees and volunteers, due to the COVID-19
restrictions.
To address the growing
challenges that graduates like Islam face as they try to gain a foothold in the
labor market, INJAZ, one of Oxfam IBIS' partners in Jordan, is working to
address the unemployment gap among young men and women across the country,
through “Participation and employment for young people "(YPE), which is
partly supported by the Danish Arab Partnership Program (DAPP).
Through the YPE
program, INJAZ offers various pathways to employment, including paid
internships for young participants in some of Jordan's governorates, including
Tafileh, Karak, Balqa and Madaba. Such programs enable young people to improve
and develop their life skills, technical expertise and employment skills, and
improve their chances of entering the labor market.
Islam was one of 5,000
participants who participated in the program and who received training for job
readiness. More than 100 of these young job-seekers were selected through
interviews to participate in a paid internship, Islam was one of them.
“I did not expect to
be selected as there were so many applicants. I was really happy when I heard
that and I am very proud to be enrolled in the program,” Islam says.
These internships
offered young participants three months' work experience in the private sector
and in civil society organizations with which INJAZ collaborates.
“After my training, I
was selected to work as a laboratory intern at the Noor al-Hussein Foundation.
It is an excellent experience that will enable me to work at other institutions
in the future,” she explains.
However, Islam does
not feel that a three-month internship is sufficient for recent graduates to be
equipped for the competitive Jordanian job market.
“I wish the internship
lasted longer. If the course lasted a year, for example, then the chance of
getting a job afterwards would be higher, I would have the opportunity to gain
more practical experience and get to know more people. ”
Supporting and
expanding employment programs for young people, including internships aimed at
equipping young people with the right skills for the job market, makes a world
of difference for young people, including the particularly vulnerable and
refugees. They enhance their chances of accessing significant employment
opportunities and enable them to engage with their communities.
For Islam, this
opportunity can be life-changing as it can help her find a job in the future
that lives up to her aspirations; "It's a wonderful feeling to have a job
and be self-sufficient, independent and responsible."
* Department of
Statistics, December 2020:
http://dos.gov.jo/dos_home_e/main/archive/Unemp/2020/EU-Q3.pdf
Made by: Aisha Shtiwi
This article was
prepared by Oxfam Jordan. The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs does not take
responsibility for the content of the article.