AMMAN (JT) - Anas Khlefat feels blessed to have found employment at a centre he says is fostering a culture of hope in his locality.

Coming to work each day as a coordinator at the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) community centre in Taybeh involves filming, sports and organised debates with his peers.

Khlefat, who was once a JOHUD volunteer, took part in the launch of its Taqat Centre in Taybeh on Wednesday, inaugurated by HRH Princess Basma, chairperson of JOHUD's board of trustees.

Taqat (meaning “energies” in Arabic) was named by its young members, who claim the centre is a place to go and express their creative energy while equipping themselves with the skills to use it productively.

The locally inspired youth hub seeks to revive adolescent activity and stimulate community involvement in an area that offers few prospects to its population of 6,000, over half of them young people.

The project, which is funded by the British embassy, has given the area’s youths a platform through which they can address controversial cultural issues that relate to them.

An innovative and light-hearted short film, produced by some of the centre’s 150 core members and screened at the launch, touched on issues like marriage, traffic accidents and the unequal freedoms given to boys and girls - sending a clear message of what weighs on their minds.

At the opening ceremony, Princess Basma expressed admiration for the centre’s achievements, highlighting the talents and capabilities of young people who are strengthening their role as community members to invoke positive change.

Emphasising the younger generation’s role in sustainable development, the Princess noted that the adoption of such projects is vital for their future.

“The youth of Taqat Centre showed that this project has great potential to become a model that can be replicated in other governorates across Jordan. This needs the cooperation of all segments of society and the understanding of the youths’ families,” she said.

The project is being implemented through two of JOHUD’s main arms: The Queen Zein Al Sharaf Institute for Development and the Princess Basma Youth Resource Centre.

The launch included a musical performance, poetry recital and screening of public service announcements produced by the centre’s members.