The National Centre for Culture and Arts (NCCA), part of the King Hussein Foundation, and the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), represented by its Civil Peace Service (CPS) programme in Jordan, have signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a framework for cooperation in peacebuilding, strengthening psychosocial resilience, and developing young people’s skills through theatre, the arts, and participatory creative methods.
The memorandum was signed on behalf of the King Hussein Foundation by Executive Director Hanaa Mitri Shaheen, in the presence of NCCA Director Joyce Al-Ra’i. GIZ was represented by Lily von Stackelberg, Coordinator of the Civil Peace Service programme in Jordan.
The partnership will support the design and delivery of joint initiatives and activities that are conflict-sensitive, gender-responsive, and inclusive. It will focus on equipping young people with psychosocial and life skills that build self-confidence, support decision-making, encourage healthy relationships, and help them engage constructively with differences.
The partners also aim to create supportive environments for young people, working with families, teachers, local communities, civil society organisations, and government institutions, with particular attention to young people facing intersecting challenges.
Drawing on its extensive experience in theatre, the arts, training, and facilitation, NCCA will contribute its trainers and facilitators to programme delivery, sustainability, and local ownership. The partnership will also support young people to become peer leaders and active volunteers in their communities.
Hanaa Mitri Shaheen said:
“This partnership reflects the National Centre for Culture and Arts’ belief in the power of the arts and theatre to create safe spaces for expression, dialogue, and trust-building. We look forward to working with GIZ and the Civil Peace Service programme to equip young people with tools to engage with differences thoughtfully and peacefully.”
Lily von Stackelberg added:
“Over the past nine years, the Civil Peace Service programme has worked to strengthen the theatre skills of its partner organisations in Jordan. Our new partnership with the National Centre for Culture and Arts is a valuable addition to our network, building on and extending our previous work. We look forward to the Centre’s contributions to the CPS network and to bringing its expertise in theatre techniques into our learning community’s toolkit.”
