Naseej - the Community Youth Development Initiative (CYDI) was launched in September 2005.  It is funded by Ford Foundation and managed by Save the Children in partnership with a regional advisory committee (RAC) formed out of youth and community development practitioners and advocates from the Arab World. 

In Arabic, “Naseej” means the “action of weaving.”  The name “Naseej” was chosen to reflect the Program’s spirit which aims at reinforcing and strengthening actions and influencing individuals and groups as well as relationships within societies.  It reflects on the fabric of the Arab societies which are multi-cultural, multi colored, not only connected but also intertwined and have great potentials. 

Naseej strategic goal is to provide Arab Youth with opportunities, services and support to take an active role in the development of themselves, their peers and their communities in partnership with all relevant stakeholders.

Since it started, Naseej has mostly executed its activities through partnerships with national entities that work with and for youth as well as active youth groups and individuals engaged in the development of their communities while implementing some of its activities directly.

Naseej – CYDI ultimate target group is young people in the Arab World aged 15–35 with a focus on youth with limited, opportunities, exposure, choices and space whether due to social, physically challenged/disability economic or political circumstances. 

In addition, Naseej targets and works closely with and for the following entities;

• Youth Workers and Activists (and advocates)
• Youth-led / youth-focused organizations and groups
• NGOs working with and for youth
• Communities

Furthermore, networking, outreach, public relations, advocacy and leveraging activities will target:

• Donors and both the Public and Private sectors
• The Media
• Government agencies, decision makers and policy makers

To date, Naseej focuses its main activity - sub-grants - in five countries; Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Lebanon and Yemen and yet extends many of its other activities to reach all the Arab World.  Such activities involves: regional events, internship and visitation, resource production, documentation, dissemination, leverage. 

Naseej works within the Community Youth Development (CYD) concepts and approaches that focus on the following in Youth Community Work:

§         Involving young people in relationships, programs and institutions that impact their lives

§         Focusing on a strengths-based approach which builds on youth and community strengths

§         Building partnerships (between the youth and the adults) based on mutuality, respect and reciprocity

§         Ensuring sustainability whereby actions are taken with consideration of positive impact on future generations, (not necessarily sustainability of structures as in organizations but rather in processes and procedures and well as concepts and believes within communities, organizations and individuals)

§         Provide Services that strengthen young people’s capabilities

§         Provide Opportunities for both informal instruction and active learning as well as opportunities for new roles and responsibilities

§         Provide supports including emotional, motivational and strategic support.

Naseej long-term expected results;

- A significant rise in youth civic participation;

- Greater integration of youth issues and concerns within development agendas in the Arab World; and

- A heightened recognition within the region of the vital role of youth in community development processes.