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ActionAid Palestine Marks International Volunteer Day

A group of youth participate in voluntary work for greening their environment

Stressing Importance of Volunteerism for Solidarity and Cohesion

Hebron-West Bank -Today, is International Volunteer Day (IVD).ActionAid Palestine(AAP) program of youth “ Enhancing Civil and Democratic Participation of Palestinian Youth”(CIV) and youth hub-Global Platform Palestine(GPP)  marks IVD which falls on 5th of Dec of each year under theme  of this year  2019  is “Volunteer for an inclusive future”. It highlights  the role of volunteers in contributing to inclusion, and Sustainable Development Goal 10, reducing inequality in society. APP’s youth programs promote volunteerism as it strengthens solidarity and cohesion by stressing the values of cooperation, inclusion, diversity and non-discrimination. Volunteerism is needed to empower people to participate in their own communities and to ensure that building of Palestinian community efforts are owned by all people and implemented by different groups and youth volunteers for all people.

 

Through their voluntary and youth initiatives, volunteers of AAP’ youth programs participate in making difference to people and communities where they live and work, give voice to marginalized vulnerable groups by being helping hands and active models of change. They provide opportunities for people particularly those excluded , to concretely impact their own lives and play a constructive role in their communities by dedicating their time, skills and passion to make the world a better place. Volunteers in Gaza are the first to respond to cases of crisis emergency  . 

AAP’s volunteers are  also engaged in establishing some community centers and sport facilities to ensure the right of children to play and right of underperforming students to receive remedial education. Their voluntary work creates  and renovates public spaces as, cultural spaces  for hosting public events for youth and  public libraries and paly ground for children in some remote areas of West Bank and Gaza Strip. They also help municipal and village councils in delivering some community services as voluntary  cleaning up campaigns and rehabilitating  public facilities as schools and construction of additional classrooms to ensure that all children and secondary girls students enjoy their right to education.

Youth volunteers participate in saving and greening Palestinian environment and advocating to right of their community to an increased share of  access to water by participating in building and renovating natural water springs and greening large spaces in different parts of remote areas facing protection threats and violence of Israeli settlers and are usually exposed to Israeli policies of land confiscation.

Background Information

ActionAid

ActionAid is ActionAid is a global federation working for a world free from poverty and injustice. It is a leading international charity working in over 45 countries. We work with the poorest women and children in the world, changing their lives for good. Our local staff provide immediate, hands-on support to women and children living on the margins of survival. Together we demand action at local, national and international level. We don’t walk away until we’ve achieved lasting change.

ActionAid in Palestine (AAP) started as a program of ActionAid Australia (formerly Austcare) in 2007 and was approved as an ActionAid Country Program, managed by the International Secretariat in 2012. AAP works to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian communities, building the active agency of women and young people to understand their rights and undertake collective activism to address the protracted rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation of Palestine. In its engagement with communities, AAP works simultaneously with women and youth groups to enhance their leadership capacity and knowledge to practice their citizenship in holding authorities and other duty bearers to account.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Riham Jafari

Coordinator of Advocacy&Communication

Mobile:

+972 (0) 595242890

Office:

+972 (0) (2) 22 13 137

Email:

 Riham.Jafari@actionaid.org