Minister of Youth and Sports Listens to Young Leaders

   

Over three fun-filled days, a group of young Palestinians engaged in intensive leadership training. At a highly participatory training held by EDC as part of the US-Palestinian Partnership (UPP), the youth played team-building games, studied basic leadership skills, and developed their own ideas on how to impact their community. Members of four Youth Development Resource Centers (YDRC), the 25 youth had traveled from across the West Bank to take part in the training, which was hosted in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

And, at the end of the three days, came an unexpected surprise: a visit from the Minister of Youth and Sports (pictured above with the young leaders). Minister Tahani Abu Daqqa joined the youth as they evaluated the three-day training. Forgoing all formalities, she joined them in a circle on the floor and invited the youth to tell her what they had learned.

The youth responded with enthusiasm. For the first time in their lives, a governmental leader was sitting amongst them and listening to their opinions. As the Minister and the YDRCs governing boards and directors watched, the youth took turns to talk about how they training had changed each of them.

Many of them praised the 30/30 training and the EDC staff who had led the three-day course. “The training was not ordinary like so many of the trainings I've attended in the past,” said Husam, a member of El Bireh YDRC. “The trainers were young, like us and very qualified, which encourages us by setting a real example that we can follow.” Others focused on their new confidence and motivation. “Before the training, my lack of knowledge made me doubt myself,” said Nana, a member of Beit Al Tifil YDRC. “But now that the initiative that I proposed with the other members of my YDRC was voted the best idea, I feel like I can speak about making a difference with great confidence.”

After she listened for over an hour and a half to their passionate comments, Minister Abu Daqqa applauded the commitment and enthusiasm of the youth sitting before her. “Today, I see the real youth leaders who have genuine courage, confidence and motivation,” she said. “These are the characteristics of a successful leader. I am confident that you are going to energize the YDRCs and use them to serve Palestine.”

The Minister also expressed her excitement at seeing the UPP in action. “I am extremely happy today,” she explained, “as I see the goals of the UPP manifested in the establishment of the YDRCs, which are tools accessible to all Palestinian youth who aspire to improve themselves and contribute to building their nation.”