The School Leadership Program (SLP)

School Leadership Program

The School Leadership Program (SLP) is a youth leadership and community service program launched by the Crown Prince Foundation in 2013 to instill the foundations of proactive citizenship and national belonging among adolescents. Targeting students in grades 8–11 in public schools across Jordan, SLP provides young people with opportunities for self-exploration, character building, leadership development, volunteering, and civic engagement, while helping them understand their role and responsibility within their communities.

Goals:
• Instill the foundations of proactive citizenship and national belonging among adolescents.
• Introduce young people to community, citizenship, and service from an early age.
• Develop leadership, teamwork, communication, and volunteering skills.
• Support youth in building self-awareness, confidence, character, and a sense of responsibility.
• Connect young people with social development and volunteer opportunities across Jordan.
• Empower youth to identify community needs and take proactive action to address them.

Methodology:
#1 – Sprouts: Building Foundations
• The first phase is open to all participating students.
• Workshops and training camps introduce youth to self-awareness, citizenship, and community service.
• Activities are designed to help adolescents begin a journey of self-exploration and character building.
• The phase establishes the foundations for further leadership and community engagement.

#2 – Knights: Developing Young Leaders
• The second phase is open to students who excel during the Sprouts phase.
• Participants engage in organized volunteer work and specialized workshops and training.
• Development areas include emotional intelligence, career guidance, civic engagement, and advanced communication skills.
• Through practical experiences, students strengthen their leadership and teamwork abilities while developing a stronger spirit of volunteering.

#3 – Councils: Civic Engagement & Collective Action
• The final phase promotes understanding of the democratic process and collective action.
• Twelve youth councils, one in each governorate, are formed, with members elected annually by the Knights.
• Each council develops an action plan linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) during its term.
• Councils enable youth to connect local community needs with wider global issues and learn how to mobilize their peers.
• The councils form an interconnected network of youth influence and support across Jordan.

Outcomes:
• Reached 160,000+ students through the program to date.
• Engaged 1,400+ schools across Jordan.
• Supported the implementation of 2,000+ community service projects.
• Provides an early entry point into youth leadership and civic engagement, with SLP representing the youngest age group served by CPF.
• Creates a pathway for young people to progress from foundational leadership development to volunteering, civic engagement, and collective community action.

Key Success Factors:
• Early engagement, introducing leadership, citizenship, and community service during adolescence.
• A structured three-phase progression from personal development to leadership and ultimately collective civic action.
• Strong focus on learning by doing, combining workshops and training with volunteering and community projects.
• National reach, targeting students in public schools across Jordan.
• Integration with national social development and volunteer platforms, strengthening young people’s sense of belonging and responsibility.
• A nationwide network of 12 youth councils, connecting local youth initiatives across all governorates.
• Joint implementation by the Ministry of Education and the Crown Prince Foundation, embedding the program within the public-school context.

Conclusion:
The School Leadership Program is more than an adolescent leadership initiative. It provides a structured pathway for young people to progress from self-awareness and character building to leadership, volunteering, civic engagement, and collective action. By starting early and connecting youth development with real community experiences, SLP contributes to CPF’s broader goal of building a generation of proactive citizens who understand their responsibility toward their communities and Jordan.