As part of #AlNahdaYouth dialogue sessions, the Arab Renaissance for Democracy and Development (ARDD) held the
Youth for Palestine group session on Sunday, May 31, 2020 via ZOOM.
As this session, which comes as part of Al Nahda Thought Center programs, aimed at empowering youth leaders and introducing active Palestinian youth in Palestine and the diaspora to ARDD initiatives focusing on communicating youth’s collective voices in addition to its creative projects, and to invite them to join #AlNahdaYouth and take part in the Global Network of Experts on the Question of Palestine initiatives.
ARDD launched #AlNahdaYouth Initiative in 2019, to activate the role of active and passionate youth in their societies, support them to communicate their voices and bring about positive change in them through several tracks that include volunteering, enhancing civil participation, social journalism and blogging, and other creative projects such as films, songs, among others.
Through the Youth for Palestine group, ARDD aims to identify the interests and concerns of Palestinian youth at home and in the diaspora by launching constructive youth dialogues and communicating their collective voices towards achieving positive change in our societies and the region as a whole.The initiative also encourages the exchange of experiences and perspectives between young people through interactive, intellectual activities and other youth activities.
This initiative comes at a critical time for the Question of Palestine. In occupied Palestine, the Palestinians face the threat of a pandemic, the daily violations by the Israeli occupation army and Israeli settlers’ aggressions, in addition to Israel’s declared intention to annex 30% of the West Bank and the Jordan Valley. Palestinian refugees in the region also face dire living conditions in the overcrowded camps in light of the pandemic and UNRWA, the main provider of medical aid in the camps, struggle to finance its services.
15 Palestinian youth leader and activist took active in Palestine and the diaspora, took part in this session and exchanged their ideas and expectations regarding possible initiatives, how to communicate their ideas about the situation and its consequences, the importance of presenting the true image of the Palestinian people at home and diaspora, and affirming their continuous pursuit of their rights and ability to withstand difficulties.
