Ruwwad – Palestinian Youth Empowerment Program

Scouting Training for Youth
Various Locations, West Bank and Gaza

In this landmark project, Ruwwad provided training support, equipment, and strategic guidance to help the Palestinian Development Forum launch a nation-wide Scout Training program for young Palestinians. Filling a void in the area of meaningful after school activities for young men and women, the Scout Training program gave more than 1000 youth the chance to learn exciting new skills--from wilderness survival to musical instrument playing. Through Ruwwad-led sustainability planning for the program, the Palestinian Development Forum aims to continue offering Scout Training in additional communities through 2008, giving hundreds more young Palestinians the chance to learn leadership and outdoor survival skills.

Farkha Youth Leadership Days
Various Locations, Salfit Governorate, West Bank

Through this innovative campaign, Ruwwad Youth Leaders organized a large-scale civic engagement drive that brought together youth from seven villages in the West Bank to improve their communities. In an intensive two-day program, more than 100 young women and men planted hundreds of new trees, cleaned up local streets, and renovated a private kindergarten. The activity also included an evening of traditional Palestinian song and dance, where young performers showcased their talents. The Farkha Youth Leadership Days not only helped strengthen local young people’s sense of civic pride and responsibility—they also helped jump-start local youth clubs and initiatives, getting young leaders in the Northern West Bank excited about helping to make their towns and villages better places to live.

World Youth Day for Democracy in Sinjil
Sinjil, Ramallah Governorate

To mark World Youth Day for Democracy, Ruwwad Youth Leaders organized a landmark series of events that enabled the village of Sinjil to celebrate along with thousands of youth in over 70 different countries. Through youth coaching and funding support from Ruwwad, the Sinjil Youth Club organized a municipal cleanup campaign, a roundtable discussion on democratic values, and a series of theatre performances--along with a Ramadan Iftar meal prepared by local youth. In addition to educating hundreds of participants and brightening the town, the event encouraged local young women and men to take initiative and work to strengthen civil society in their own surroundings. The event concluded with a public panel discussion on youth and democracy, featuring prominent local speakers.

Ruwwad Summer Camps
Various Locations, West Bank and Gaza

In cooperation with the Palestinian Development Forum (PDF) and the Palestinian Council for Development, Dialogue, and Democracy (PCD3), Ruwwad has organized 20 summer camp programs for over 4000 youth in the West Bank and Gaza. Over the course of the summer, young people from Gaza City to Jenin enjoyed sports, art classes, cultural activities, games, and fun field trips to swimming pools—a much-needed break from the stress of daily life. Specialized camps also targeted refugee and handicapped youth: In Ruwwad’s Rafah City camp, close to 50% of young participants were deaf/hard of hearing. At the end of the Ruwwad summer camp season, young campers returned to their families with new memories, new friends, and souvenir hats and T-shirts marking their experience. Most important, though, were the valuable lessons learned during this summer fun: Campers started the new school year with messages about teamwork and non-violence fresh in their minds.

Civic Empowerment Campaign
Qalqilya and Tulkarem Governorates, West Bank

Delivered in partnership with the Civic Forum Institute ( CFI), this project provided youth in the marginalized Qalqilya and Tulkarem districts with civic engagement training on election laws, the Palestinian Legislative Council ( PLC), and municipal government. Young people also received coaching in advocacy, lobbying and communication skills, and took part in youth coordination meetings and networking. More than 1,150 youth were reached directly through this program—with young people increasing their participation in formal and informal political spheres, and learning key lessons about equal opportunities for female and male youth in local society.

“For Tomorrow” – Anti-Smoking Campaign
Various Locations, West Bank

Through a sub-grant from Ruwwad, local Palestinian NGO Sharek implemented a youth-centered anti-smoking campaign to raise awareness about the negative effects of smoking and second-hand smoke. During the campaign, youth volunteers in Bethlehem, Jericho, Ramallah and East Jerusalem held anti-smoking rallies and a bicycle race to promote healthy lifestyles among young Palestinians. 400 youth were directly involved in this initiative, with hundreds of additional youth benefiting from campaign activities in targeted communities.