PalThink Launches ToT Course within ‘Turning Human Rights and Democracy Principles into Everyday Practices’ Project
Gaza – PalThink for Strategic Studies has launched a training course for trainers within the “SWITCH: Turning the principles of Human Rights and Democracy into everyday life and practices for the people of Gaza” project, implemented in collaboration with Acted and Convergences, and funded by the European Union. The event was attended by the director of PalThink, Omar Shaaban, and the director of Acted in the Palestinian territories, Ginny Haythornthwaite.
Shaaban welcomed the attendees and emphasized PalThink’s interest in the Palestinian youth, stating that they are the most capable of creating change, especially given that Palestinian society is youthful in nature.
He added that “this training is part of a series of activities and projects carried out by PalThink in collaboration with local and international partners to spread and enhance the culture of democracy, dialogue, peaceful conflict resolution, youth empowerment, and skill development.”
Shaban presented the project’s idea and goal, which aims to enhance the capacities of human rights advocates, change-makers, and civil society leaders by equipping them with the necessary information and skills to monitor and document the situation of human rights in society. Additionally, the project aims to develop the capacities of traditional and new media institutions in promoting human rights.
Ginny Haythornthwaite emphasized the importance of this training, noting that “while most courses in this field focus on theoretical aspects, this training concentrates on practical aspects that empower trainees to achieve the project’s overarching goal of transforming the principles of democracy and human rights into a way of life and daily practices.”
The training program provides a substantial dose of essential skills and knowledge that enable recipients to implement community initiatives. This includes concepts of human rights from a legal perspective and its evolution, democracy concepts, global democratic indicators, gender equality, hate speech, democracy, and political participation of youth, the Palestinian political system, political decision-making skills, new and traditional media in promoting human rights culture, presentation skills, and public speaking.
The project includes the training of 60 young men and women through a 10-day training course divided into three training groups. The participants will then transfer the skills and knowledge they have acquired to their peers and communities by implementing community initiatives and conducting awareness-raising sessions in collaboration with PalThink partner CSOs in various areas and governorates of the Gaza Strip.
