IRI Launches Leadership Palestine, a Youth Initiative in the West Bank and Gaza

For Immediate Release
April 29, 2008

Ramallah, West Bank – The International Republican Institute (IRI) launched Leadership Palestine, an initiative for young adults from 10 West Bank and Gaza communities. The initiative is a comprehensive leadership training program that will teach the participants develop leadership that will enable them to effectively participate in community decision-making.

The initiative began in March with an orientation session that connected more than 100 youth in Ramallah and Gaza City via video teleconference. Participants in both cities shared their desire to effect change in their communities and many expressed their frustration due to the ongoing violence. As one of the participants from Hebron said “I’m in this group because I want to benefit my community, feel that I'm useful and can provide people help.”

Over a five month period, participants will gain skills in leadership, community resource mapping, analysis of community strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, budgeting and public policy advocacy. Additionally, each of the 10 leadership groups will prepare and present a policy issue paper developed from a hands-on community project. As they choose and design their community projects, participants will be provided with the opportunity to interact with community members and decision-makers.

Leadership Palestine effectively utilizes the knowledge and experience of three leading Palestinian civil society organizations: the Family Rehabilitation Center, Filastiniyat and Panorama, who developed the program with IRI’s programmatic and financial support. of human development, gender studies, survey research and opinion polling.

            

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