Mercy Corps Jordan opens first two hiking trails in Zarqa
Mercy Corps Jordan under its Inclusive Security and Resilient Youth project (Mirsah), and in collaboration with “We Participate” Center for Civil Society Development, opened the first two hiking trails in Prince Hashem Park in Bireen area in Zarqa governorate. This initiative is part of Mirsah’s Nature Club program, and aimed at promoting adventure tourism in Zarqa.
The Nature Club program is a partnership between Mercy Corps Jordan and “We Participate” Center, designed to introduce young people to Jordan's nature and outdoor sports and educate them about preserving and sustaining natural areas in Jordan. It also focuses on developing practical and life skills among young people and enhancing their psychological and social well-being through concepts of nature and the outdoors.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Mahmoud Al-Sbeihat, Director of “We Participate” Center, praised the efforts put together during this three-month program. The initiative involved the participation of a number of young males and females aged 16 to 20, with the aim of enhancing their cognitive and practical skills. Mr. Al-Sbeihat highlighted that this new trail is the first of its kind in Zarqa Governorate, extending over a distance of 4 kilometers within the park and 8 kilometers outside of it.
In her speech, Mrs. Rawan Mamkagh, the project manager for the Inclusive Security and Resilient Youth (Mirsah) expressed her deep gratitude to the Mayor of Bireen for his significant support of the youth in this initiative. She also emphasized the importance of this project,"This trail is one of the successes of the Nature Club in Zarqa. It creates a space where families can come together to enjoy the beauty of nature in the Bireen area.”
Mr. Wahbi Al-Zawahreh, Mayor of Bireen Municipality, expressed his pride in the initiative and commended the collaborative efforts between Mercy Corps and “We Participate” Center. He reaffirmed the municipality’s support for innovative projects and providing necessary assistance to serve the local community.
During the opening event, a video was presented explaining the Nature Club and its focused goals of raising awareness among youth and local communities about the importance of preserving and sustaining natural areas in Jordan. At the end of the event, the two trails were launched in the presence of Mr. Wahbi Al-Zawahreh, where the benefits and expected advantages of these trails were explained by the Nature Club participants to the attendees.
The Inclusive Security and Resilient Youth project – Mirsah, funded by Conflict, Stability and Security Fund is a community-based development program supporting at-risk youth in Jordan between the ages of 16 to 30. Mirsah will adopt a positive youth development approach to psychosocial support interventions with the aim of promoting learning; increasing stability through co-existence and inclusive security; and building the psychosocial resiliency of youth and their families. The project will work with the Ministry of Youth and other national actors on the national level to advance the inclusive participation of women and youth in the Peace and Security agenda, by developing the first action plan to implement the Security Council Resolution 2250 in Jordan.