PAL-THINK SUPPORTING THE STRENGTHENING OF YOUTH CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IN GAZA

Throughout the period of the last two months, Pal-Think for Strategic Studies have facilitated a range of workshops and seminar aiming to capacitate the Palestinian youth in Gaza, and to promote cultural and community awareness of civic and political issues. Under the headline of ‘Youth as Agents of Positive Change’ the aim of the engagement have been to include youth in the participation of making a better future for themselves and for society. Themes within the project have included Women’s claim of rights and their political engagement; A workshop on human rights and the Palestinian Election Law; Sessions about the values of Tolerance, the renouncement of violence and peaceful conflict resolution; and the involvement of youth in various of political mediations amongst others their role in the dissemination of openness and tolerance towards others. The project is a collaborate effort, initiated by Pal-think and supported by the US Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).
More than 300 young men and women have participated actively in the sessions during the execution of the project and many participants have expressed excitement about the topics and their ability to learn from- and contribute to the sessions. It is the opinion of Pal-Think that the youth is the future leders of a strong Palestinian state, and as such initiatives like ‘Youth as Agents of Positive Change’ are important in order to qualify the youth.