Some 50 young people aged between 16 and 25 years old discussed with MPs and EU JDID representatives various topics including youth participation in political decision making and elections, the influence of social media and youth’s relation to civil society and political parties.

Members of Jerash’s governorate council and political parties were also in attendance.

‘‘We, as young people, are always afraid of participating in political parties which is why we need the support of the government,’’ said 18 year-old Areej Bani Mustafa, an argument supported by Saad Al-Marwsrah, 20, who noted that ‘‘we don’t have channels to express our opinions and there is no governmental entity here to protect people who want to engage in political parties.’’

Ehab Almasri, 24, added: "Political participation should not be limited to being a member of a political party but also to elect the right person and to engage in civil society organisations."

This workshop comes as a joint effort from EU Support to Jordanian Democratic Institutions and Development (EU JDID) ’s four components (Parliamentary Support; Electoral Assistance; Support to Political Parties and to Civil Society Organisations), which strive to raise youth awareness on political participation and encourage them to form coalitions of change at a policy level.