Untapped Talent

My plane landed in Amman, Jordan on May 7^th, 2012. The beautiful sunny (and dry) afternoon in Amman was a welcome change from Ann Arbor’s unpredictable weather. On my drive back from the airport, amidst the sounds of heavy traffic, pedestrian activity, and my sisters’ excited chatter around me, the call to prayer rose in the background announcing the sunset. There is something about Amman, the energy, the chaos, and hints of frustration that make it so unique.

I worked in Jordan for two years prior to joining the University of Michigan. In October 2010, I met Amir in Amman. Amir worked two jobs, commuted from Jerash two hours north of Amman, and was supporting five children, two of whom were university students. We worked in the same building and I often saw him in the elevator, a few months later he confessed to me the difficulty he was facing supporting his family financially and the real burden college tuition has become on his family.

As I returned to my office, sincerely bothered by his troubles, I just wanted to find ways to help. I realized he was not the only one, in fact, I soon learned that only about 16% of Jordanian families can afford higher education in Jordan. That being said, programs and organizations that provided student loans have not been able to reach anywhere near the capacity needed. Will Amir win the battle against his circumstances? Will he be able to finance the education of his five children? And what about the other 84% of Jordanian fathers? With access to higher education seemingly limited to a few, how many opportunities, in the shape of untapped talent, is Jordan’s economy missing out on?

The following year, I started my graduate degree at the University of Michigan, and I am lucky enough to be chosen as a William Davidson Institute fellow this summer, working with Vittana, a non-governmental organization that provides student loans in developing countries. Vittana partners with microfinance institutions in the countries they serve, and their loans are funded by lenders on their website.

This summer, I am addressing the questions I started to ask two years ago. I am hopeful and optimistic.