A Future in the Balance: How the conflict in Syria is impacting on the needs,concerns and aspirations of young people across the Middle East
![A Future in the Balance PDF file screenshot](/sites/default/files/styles/scale_and_crop_700_500/public/2016-08/FinalYouthResearch_En_2016.png?h=3af9cf60&itok=IdNa49io)
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC),together with the Information and Research Center - King Hussein Research Foundation (IRCKHF) and the International Blue Crescent Relief and Development Foundation (IBC),have undertaken research in Jordan to better understand the needs,aspirations and challenges faced by displaced and local community youth aged between 15 and 24. The study confirmed that a generation of young people from Syria is losing hope in the future. Living in conditions of extreme poverty,they are faced with many barriers to accessing education and economic opportunities. They have only very limited chances to engage in social and civic activities and feel disempowered and frustrated. The immense pressures placed on the resources of refugee-hosting countries mean that local community youth are also struggling. While some of the difficulties they face predate the current conflicts,the large influx of newcomers to their communities has impacted negatively on their lives and has increased their concerns about the future. In order to avoid a lost generation,much more support needs to be given to youth to allow them to regain control over their futures and develop into educated,productive and engaged members of society. In order to help address the challenges highlighted by youth themselves in this study and to support them to realise their potential,governments of countries neighbouring Syria,the international community and humanitarian aid actors ought to consider the key recommendations in this study.