Since the year 2001, PARC has focused heavily on the Palestinian youth sector. By directing programs related to this sector, PARC is working towards its first and second strategic objectives, which are: to assist in strengthening and making sustainable institutions and unions with a youth base, as well as to contribute in strengthening the national Palestinian social struggle. Our programs and activities in this sector are focused under PARC’s interim goals, represented in supporting the establishment and strengthening of youth associations, cooperatives, and unions in rural areas. The program strives to strengthen the ethic of volunteerism and to utilize youths’ energy and guide them towards work in agricultural domains, since they tend to migrate from the rural communities to cities. PARC’s youth program covers all provinces in the nation and incorporates youth between 18 and 35 years old.
Program Definition:
The Youth Development Program is a group of activities and interventions geared towards youth living in rural areas of Palestine, especially in marginalized rural regions.
General Aim:
• To organize youth into youth groups and highlight the development of effective young leaders who are capable of identifying their needs and priorities.
• To empower youth socially, economically, and politically
• To encourage voluntary development work to benefit Palestinian rural regions by those shareholders involved in future planning and building civil society.
Core Interventions of the Program:
1. Building youth capacity through classes and workshops in the fields of planning and development, management skills, as well as skills in finance, communication, networking, coordination, and strengthening the concept of civil society and citizenship.
2. Raising awareness of rights and duties as well as strengthening concepts of humanity and community based on equality between the sexes.
3. Raising the level of environmental awareness by protecting the environment from pollution hazards and strengthening environmentally friendly and supportive practices.
4. Encouraging volunteer development work to benefit the rural areas and provinces in the form of sustainable and continuous development activities.
5. Developing an infrastructure to support rural youth, including the establishment of special centres where they can develop activities, hobbies, and interests, particularly youth-oriented athletic, artistic, scholastic, and development pursuits.
6. Carrying out advocacy and assistance campaigns aimed at defending community issues and activating the social and political role of youth, hopefully leading to participation in the political decision-making process for the defence of youth rights.
7. Organizing exchange visits between youth associations locally, throughout the Arab world, and internationally to exchange skills and experiences through local and international volunteer camps.
8. Networking and coordinating with other parties involved in local, Arab, and international organizations.
The Program and its Activities:
• Capacity building program: including organizing hundreds of workshops and holding training lessons in different fields (development, administration, finance, community, law, politics, and leadership).
• Exchange visits: carrying out dozens of exchange visits for those interested in benefitting from the process of exchanging expertise, knowledge, and experience between youth in different rural regions.
• General events and networking: with all local organizations and members of youth networks that assist in developing and maintaining long-term relationships with rural movements to encourage sustainable rural development.
• Opening and establishing youth community headquarters: PARC founded 30 centres for youth associations in 30 villages in various provinces for youth aged between 18 and 35. The total number of beneficiaries includes 750 male and female associate members.
• Dissemination of pamphlets, posters, and media: for communicating development messages, exchanging experiences, and assisting in the process of spreading the idea to include the greatest number of youth possible.
• Volunteer environmental camps and campaigns: ten campaigns carried out annually in rural regions. Thus far, ten rural regions have benefitted from these campaigns, with 500 male and female participants taking part.
• International work camps: five international camps were held in the Martyr Na’im Khadr Centre in the town of Zababdeh, the Martyr Rajaa Abu ‘Amasha Centre in Jericho, as well as in Bethlehem. 500 male and female volunteers participated, including 100 foreign volunteers.
• Summer camps: camps for children in rural and marginalized regions are held annually for children aged between 6 and 15 years old with local volunteer participation and supervision. 20 summer camps are operated annually, benefitting 2000 children.
• Establishing and developing environmental clubs: these clubs provide environmental services and work on developing and improving school gardens. 35 schools benefit from these environmental clubs, which include a total of 700 male and female student members.
• Gandhi film screening: the film is based on the philosophy of self-reliance and finding peaceful solutions to resolving conflicts and violence. Apart from screening the film, three workshops and three classes were held, in addition to a symposium around “Strengthening and activating Gandhi’s philosophy of self-reliance, poverty reduction, and increasing youth awareness of the importance of small enterprises."
• Carrying out dozens of volunteer campaigns for picking olives in rural Palestinian regions that are vulnerable due to their proximity to the wall and settlements. These campaigns drew the participation of dozens of foreign volunteers as well as hundreds of volunteers from Palestinian youth associations.
