Dreams beyond borders: refugee resilience and empowerment
These stories highlight individuals who, despite displacement and adversity, have turned their circumstances into stepping stones toward a brighter future.
Najahna programme
Najahna is a five-year programme (2022-2026) funded by the Novo Nordisk Foundation with a mission to promote youth empowerment in Jordan. The programme is implemented by 5 consortium partners with Plan International as the consortium lead alongside the Norwegian Refugee Council, the Danish Industry, and the Royal Health Awareness Society.
The programme focuses on Syrian refugees and conflict-affected youth aged 12 to 25, with a particular emphasis on adolescent girls and young women. Our programme operates across Amman, Irbid, Zarqa, Mafraq, Zaatari and Azraq refugee camps.
Najahna aims to empower Syrian refugees and other conflict-affected youth, especially girls and women, to access sustainable livelihood opportunities and challenge barriers to social and economic participation.
Objectives
- Ensure access to quality sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender-based violence services, empowering youth to challenge social norms and make informed decisions.
- Strengthen the education system to ensure equal access to quality secondary education and empower youth to make informed decisions about their future.
- Economically empower young Syrian refugees and other conflict-affected youth, especially women, by providing access to decent jobs.
Najahna mobile journalism activity
Explore inspiring stories and initiatives from the Najahna programme. These videos showcase how Najahna equips Jordanian and Syrian youth with skills in entrepreneurship, digital storytelling, and vocational training—amplifying their voices, fostering inclusive growth, and creating pathways to meaningful employment.
Stories of success that inspire
From Azraq Camp to the cities of Zarqa, Irbid, Mafraq, and Amman we share the journeys of young people who turned challenges into opportunities through the Najahna programme.
Each story proves that determination and belief in an idea can create real change.
Youth stories of innovation and determination
Passion, when nurtured with persistence, can transform lives and communities. These stories showcase young individuals who have taken bold steps to pursue their dreams—whether through entrepreneurship, technical training, or creative expression. Each journey reflects the power of self-belief and the impact of turning personal goals into professional success.
Dreams beyond borders: refugee resilience and empowerment
In the heart of refugee camps and underserved communities, hope often flickers in the smallest acts of courage. These stories highlight individuals who, despite displacement and adversity, have turned their circumstances into stepping stones toward a brighter future. From empowering others through education to building platforms for change, these voices remind us that resilience knows no boundaries.
Syrian Youth: Pathways to Sustainable Futures
This 2025 study on Syrian refugee youth in Jordan reveals their aspirations, barriers to return, and urgent needs in livelihoods, education, and mental health.
Najahna Factsheet 2025
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Najahna Consortium Partners
- Plan International: Leads the consortium and helps young people who are not in school get the learning they need. Plan International facilitates economic pathways through entrepreneurship support, job matching, and referrals to income-generation opportunities linked to on-the-job training and vocational/technical training aligned with labour-market needs. In parallel, Plan International fosters inclusive communities by enhancing access to protection services and leading social and behaviour change campaigns.
- Norwegian Refugee Council: Provides access to quality education for young Syrian students in public schools in and out of refugee camps as well as vocational training and employment opportunities for refugees and vulnerable Jordanians.
- Danish Industry and their local partner, the Jordan Chamber of Industries: Works with vocational training institutions to ensure that vocational training programmes match the needs of the private sector. They also support the private sector in employing youth and connect students with internships.
- Royal Health Awareness Society: Creates an enabling environment for youth, especially girls, by providing reproductive health and gender-based violence education, career counselling, and safe, inclusive spaces in schools and youth centres across the targeted governorates.
- Includovate: The Research and Evaluation partner, leads on research studies and the evaluation component of the programme to support evidence generation, learning, and inform programme adaptation.
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