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Mohammad Abu Shamaleh Utilized Power of Digital Media for Lunching “We Will Rebuild It” Campaign Before Declaring Ceasefire

photo  of Mohmmad Abu Shammaleh who launched the national campaign  titled with “ We will Rebuild it’ through social media for  cleaning Gaza from rubbles after end Israeli war against Gaza -Gaza Strip- Palestine -2021

 

 

Equipped with brooms, members of ActionAid Palestine ‘s(AAP) youth groups and other young people in Gaza started the second day of the ceasefire in the streets searching for life and hope even in the dustiest and narrowest corners. They believe that their beloved Gaza will be rebuilt by the efforts of its inspiring youths and their love and belief that they deserve to live in peace. They maintain high spirits as they clean the streets of the Gaza city. AAP supported its youth groups of “Lejan” and “COVID-19 Youth-Led Digital Engagement” by providing them with necessary equipment and securing their access to damaged sies and covering their transportation. 

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(photo of youth while they are participating in national campaign titled with “We Will Rebuild It” for cleaning” cleaning Gaza from rubbles after end Israeli war against Gaza -Gaza Strip- Palestine -2021)

Mohammd Abu Shamaleh (21 years old) is a Palestinian youth activist who first launched the call for the largest national campaign titled with “ we Will Rebuild it” immediately before declaring ceasefire of War by Israel and Palestinian on 20th May 2021. With his social media accounts, Mohammad launched the call of this campaign asking Palestinian young volunteers to clean Gaza from rubbles and help workers of Gaza municipality after end of Israeli aggression that lasted for 11 days. Mohmmad has experienced four Israeli attacks waged against Gaza Strip. The suffering of Palestinians during this aggression has pushed Mohmmad to creative and active in using digital tools for serving his community and strengthening its resilience.  During the days of aggression, he was active in using social media for providing psychological support to youth and children in his community who were terrified by sound of bombing. He was also posting messages that aim to calm his people and mitigate their fears resulting from continuous and sever Israeli bombing.

Mohammad was successful in mobilizing his pioneers and many young people and his initiative was adopted by Gaza municipality that has boasted the call by asking community organizations and all community members to participate in this campaign. 

Mohmmad Says: “we, young women and men came today from different areas from Gaza to show the world that youth can develop their society and improve its conditions. We hope that we could rebuild our country”

Mohammad joined the project of “COVID-19 Youth-Led Digital Engagement” that AAP launched in the end of 2020.  The purpose of this project is to leverage the use of technology to support the work of young people in holding duty bearers to account.  Through the creation of digital engagement tools, young people will be supported and empowered to access information, analyze data, present evidence, and lead their communities in taking action to create positive change in their communities and empower youth to become agents of change in their communities.  

Asmaa’ Dahir is a young woman activist joined “We Will Rebuild It” campaign.  Asmaa’ says: “the damage caused by Israeli occupation and bombing high-rise buildings strongly pushed us to participate in this campaign which contributes to improving our community. It will also convey a message to the world stating that Palestinian children, youth and elderly will rebuild the damage caused by occupation. We hope that our country will be more beautiful than before”

(photo of young woman activist Asmaa’ Dahir while she was participating in  national campaign  titled with “ We will Rebuild it’ for  cleaning Gaza from rubbles after end Israeli war against Gaza -Gaza Strip- Palestine -2021)

According to Gaza’s ministry of public works and housing, at least five high-rise buildings, 74 government facilities, and 33 media institutions were destroyed. Additionally, 1,800 housing units were wrecked.

The latest count according to Gaza’s health ministry announced, stood at 253 martyrs, including 66 children, 39 women, and 17 elderly people, and 1948 wounded.

Background Information

ActionAid in Palestine (AAP) is a part of global federation working for social justice and gender equality and eradicate poverty in more than 45 countries around the world. AAP started its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of Palestinian People as ActionAid believes that they should enjoy their rights to freedom, justice and self-determination. AAP implements a number of programs through its engagement with communities and women and youth groups seeking to empower them and enhance their influential civil and political participation to understand their rights and undertake collective activism to address the protracted rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation of Palestine. AAP works simultaneously 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 and Communication in Palestine

Mobile:

+972 (0) 595242890

Office:

+972 (0) (2) 22 13 137

Email:

 Riham.Jafari@actionaid.org