BBC Arabic seeks young people's view of the future

Your future, who decides it? launched in the Jordanian capital, Amman with interactive booths and conversation-promoting materials at places young people meet and mingle, such as universities, shopping malls, gyms and coffee shops. On Monday, 27 February, Jordan University hosts a BBC debate on unemployment and the labour market which is broadcast live on BBC Arabic radio. Highlights of the debate will be available via video on demand on bbcarabic.com

The debate features speakers Marwan Jumaa, Chief Executive Officer of Batelco Jordan; Professor Abdel Rahim Hunaiti, the President of Jordan University; and Muna Nijem, Chairman of Telecommunications Regulatory Commission - Jordan. The debate is informed by an opinion poll, commissioned by the BBC, seeking young people's views, and will include comments prompted by the materials - emailed to bbcarabic.com and hand-written on posters around Amman.

Your future, who decides it? then tours Khartoum in Sudan, the West Bank, and Damascus in Syria encouraging responses and debate around a range of national and social issues relevant in the lives of young people, ranging from what life is like between borders and crossing points, to the search for identity.

Jerry Timmins, Regional Head, BBC Middle East says:

"We have made several changes to the Arabic service over the past two years which make the output more accessible and appealing to younger people in the Middle East and North Africa. It is obviously right that we include amongst our long established audience the generation who will be setting the pace for social and economic development in the years ahead."

"After all, this is the generation who will increasingly expect their news provision to be multimedia, accessible and relevant on a variety of platforms 24 hours a day - something the BBC is well positioned to provide."

Hosam El Sokkari, Head of BBC Arabic service, adds: "Across the Arabic-speaking world, young people are in the majority in terms of numbers but usually have a minority voice. Your future, who decides it? ensures we hear that voice. We are taking BBC Arabic to them - to the universities, sports clubs, shopping malls and coffee shops - so we can access their views directly. I am confident we are going to generate great content for our radio programmes and for our online site, bbcarabic.com, building relationships which will inform our output in the years ahead."

A special micro-site on bbcarabic.com ensures Your future, who decides it? is followed by Arabic speakers across the world. It carries features on the debate themes, details the research results, includes images and audio from the interactive events and posts comments from those wishing to express their views. It also promotes a newsletter registration site, from which the debate event audiences will be invited - bbcarabic.com/future

Your future, who decides it? debates are broadcast live on BBC Arabic at 15.00 GMT:

• Jordan University, Amman, 27 February: The job market and unemployment. BBC presenter Nouran Sallam

• Khartoum University, 6 March: Sudanese youth and the search for identity. Guest speakers include Sudan media specialists, Ali Shamou and Ammar Ahmed Adam. BBC presenter Safaa Faisal

• Birzeit University, West Bank, 13 March: Life between borders and crossing points with Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, politician, Sami Al Kilani, a professor at Al Najah University in Nablus, and Ali Jarbawi, the Dean of Beir Zeit University's Faculty of Law and Public Administration. BBC presenter Aliaa Gad

• Damascus University, 20 March: Openness to the world through economic and technological means. Guest speakers include Abdullah Al Dardari, Deputy Prime Minister for economic affairs and one of the architects of the Syrian economic reform program, and Emad Al Rifae, a business figure and member of the Chamber of Industry. BBC presenter Nur Zorgui

Highlights of the debates are available via video on demand on bbcarabic.com

BBC Arabic has over 12 million listeners while bbcarabic.com attracts around 17 million page impressions a month. Broadcasting 24 hours a day, BBC Arabic is a respected voice in the region, widely acknowledged for its independent and unbiased coverage of regional, national and international news.