Tasneem Elridi
On the occasion of World Youth Skills Day, renewed calls are being made to invest in young people’s skills as they represent the driving force behind sustainable development and positive social change. Across the Arab world, more than 100 million young people between the ages of 15 and 24 account for over 32% of the region’s population. Yet this tremendous human capital faces significant challenges, most notably an unemployment rate of approximately 30.6%—the highest in the world. Against this backdrop, investing in education, vocational training, and volunteerism is no longer optional; it has become a fundamental pillar for preparing a generation equipped with the skills needed to contribute to humanitarian action, lead community initiatives, and advance sustainable development.
For 33 years, Life for Relief and Development (LIFE) has been harnessing young people’s potential and strengthening their capacities through humanitarian work around the globe. According to Vicki Roob, LIFE’s International Programs Director, volunteering offers a comprehensive developmental experience that strengthens young people’s character while enhancing their psychological and social well-being. By serving others and witnessing the positive impact of their efforts, volunteers develop greater self-confidence, a stronger sense of competence, and the motivation to achieve. Volunteer experiences also foster emotional intelligence by enabling young people to better understand others’ emotions and engage with diverse communities through empathy and respect. Furthermore, field experience helps them adapt to pressure and unexpected challenges, strengthening their resilience and emotional regulation skills.
Volunteering: A Path to Self-Discovery and Better Mental Well-Being
Roob explained that through the experiences of volunteers across LIFE’s 14 international offices, working in areas ranging from orphan care and clean water projects to education support, emergency response during disasters and conflicts, and community development initiatives, the organization has witnessed firsthand how volunteering nurtures responsibility, discipline, and commitment. It also develops essential soft skills such as effective communication, active listening, teamwork, appreciation of diversity, and constructive conflict resolution.
These real-life experiences provide young people with practical opportunities to develop leadership, planning, problem-solving, and decision-making skills in authentic work environments. As a result, they become more aware of their strengths while identifying areas for further growth and development.
At the same time, volunteering strengthens young people’s sense of belonging and purpose by enabling them to become active contributors to their communities and agents of positive change. This significantly improves self-esteem and overall mental well-being. Moreover, volunteering helps shape their professional and social identity by exposing them to different career paths and providing practical experience that enhances their employability and prepares them to assume greater responsibilities and lead future humanitarian and community initiatives.
Training Young People Creates More Effective Humanitarian Volunteers
Mohammad Al-Sharq, Director of LIFE’s Lebanon Office, emphasized that the organization views Lebanese youth as key partners in community recovery efforts. Consequently, LIFE actively engages them in humanitarian programs and field initiatives while providing specialized training that combines theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience. This approach enables young people to acquire the skills required to effectively serve vulnerable communities and lead volunteer initiatives.
He explained that the training programs focus on developing leadership, teamwork, effective communication, time management, initiative planning, and humanitarian project management. They also strengthen young people’s capacities in needs assessment, emergency response, adherence to humanitarian principles, and respect for diversity and social cohesion, ensuring they are well prepared to address the challenges facing Lebanese society.
Al-Sharq added that continuous investment in volunteer training has significantly improved the efficiency of field teams and enhanced the quality of humanitarian services. It has also strengthened young volunteers’ ability to communicate with beneficiaries, better understand their needs, and operate effectively in complex environments, resulting in faster, more professional humanitarian responses and increased community trust.
Over the past period, young volunteers have participated in a wide range of humanitarian activities, including food distribution, school bag and clothing campaigns, educational and recreational activities for children, community awareness campaigns, support for displaced and vulnerable families, and the implementation of relief initiatives targeting communities most in need across different regions of Lebanon.
He further noted that Lebanese youth continue to face growing challenges due to the country’s economic and social conditions, including limited employment and training opportunities, increasing migration, and the difficulty of balancing education or work with volunteer commitments. Nevertheless, LIFE remains committed to investing in young people’s potential by expanding training opportunities, launching youth-led initiatives, and strengthening partnerships with universities and local institutions to prepare a generation equipped to contribute to community development and humanitarian leadership.
Jordanian Youth: Advanced Skills at the Heart of Humanitarian Response
Nada Haroun, Director of LIFE’s Jordan Office, believes that young people are central to the organization’s strategy. Rather than viewing them simply as volunteers, LIFE considers them partners in creating humanitarian impact and advancing sustainable development.
She explained that LIFE pays particular attention to orphan beneficiaries who have reached adulthood by continuing to support them beyond the sponsorship period, engaging them in humanitarian activities, and providing training and professional development opportunities that enable them to gain practical experience and assume greater responsibility.
Haroun noted that investing in youth training has directly enhanced the quality of humanitarian services. Many young volunteers have become more capable of understanding beneficiaries’ needs and responding according to humanitarian standards. A number of former beneficiaries have even transitioned from receiving assistance to leading volunteer initiatives, distributing aid, organizing community events, supporting activities for children and families, preparing humanitarian shipments, documenting projects, and managing field operations.
She also highlighted that many young people—particularly orphans transitioning out of sponsorship—continue to face challenges related to limited training and employment opportunities and the transition toward self-reliance. LIFE therefore continues to support them through mentoring, vocational development, educational opportunities, and expanded partnerships with universities and training centers, believing that investing in people is the foundation of sustainable development.
Digital Skills Have Become a Cornerstone of Humanitarian Action
Digital skills are no longer merely supportive tools for humanitarian work; they have become one of its essential pillars.
According to Engineer Khaled Safi, a digital media consultant and trainer, humanitarian organizations can leverage young people’s talents in a wide range of fields, including humanitarian data analysis, digital platform management, awareness content production, fundraising campaign management, and the application of artificial intelligence to assess needs and optimize resource allocation. Young people can also develop innovative digital solutions that accelerate emergency response operations.
Safi concluded that the future requires moving beyond viewing youth as volunteers and recognizing them as partners in innovation and decision-making. Their ability to create low-cost, high-impact digital solutions can significantly improve humanitarian operations, enhance transparency, and ensure faster and more efficient delivery of assistance to those most in need.
For more information:
https://lifeusa.org/#social-media