Community Asset Mapping Report Ras El Ain

The assessment used a three-fold strategy, consisting of an institutional mapping tool, a community mapping tool, and a focus group discussion with youth. The process of mapping was guided by youth to enhance their agency, self-efficacy, and initiative programming. The community asset mapping tools were designed and developed on tablets for mobile data collection. Data was collected through two types of surveys and a focus group. The surveys were framed around six main categories: youth development, educational environment, health, social environment, inclusion, and community services. The institutional mapping survey was used to inquire about the services, resources, and challenges of institutions in the area, while the community mapping survey was used to investigate the challenges, barriers, importance, and quality of services and resources in the community. A total of 20 youth from Ras El-Ain were trained on collecting data for the community asset mapping. The training took place from November 5-6, 2019, and the mapping surveys were conducted over the next three days. The results from the two mapping surveys were preliminary analyzed to guide the focus group discussions with youth from the community. One focus group was conducted on November 12, 2019, for males and females. The demographic information collected during the assessment showed that the nationalities surveyed were primarily Jordanian (82%), followed by Syrian (8%), Palestinian (7%), and others (3%). The age group surveyed ranged from 12-60 years, with 72% of the sample under 29 years old. The sex distribution was 38.5% males and 61.5% females. The institutional mapping survey identified 17 institutions in Ras El-Ain, with the majority being non-profit organizations (61%). The needs of youth who did not complete their education were identified as a lack of access to educational resources, business resources, and internet knowledge stations. The main findings of the assessment are presented in six categories: youth development, educational environment, health, social environment, inclusion, and community services. In the youth development category, the survey found that disability-friendly public spaces, libraries, and youth clubs and associations were the youth outlets with the greatest need for improvement. Focus group feedback highlighted the importance of having accessible spaces for persons with disabilities, a library with sufficient books, and a platform to inform youth of events and activities in their community. In the educational environment category, the survey found that out-of-school services such as educational resources, business resources, and internet knowledge stations were least accessible or did not exist. Focus group feedback emphasized the need for awareness about existing resources, business support, and internet access. The assessment highlights the importance of addressing the needs of youth in Ras El-Ain, particularly in terms of accessible spaces, educational resources, and business support. The findings of the assessment can inform programming and interventions to address the needs of youth in the community.