ActionAid Palestine to Support Youth Initiative to Build Young People’s Capacities in Emergency Preparedness

Jenin – Occupied Palestinian Territory – ActionAid Palestine (AAP) , through its Global Platform Palestine, supported the “Ready for Any Emergency” initiative launched by the Impact Club team in the village of ʿA’atara” in Jenin Governorate in the north of West Bank, in cooperation with the Palestinian Civil Defense, the Palestinian Medical Relief Society, and the Village Council. The initiative targeted 35 young men and women from the village, with the aim of strengthening the local community’s ability to provide initial response in emergencies amid the difficult security conditions the village is currently experiencing. All necessary tools and stationery were provided to participants.

Throughout the initiative, a series of practical and theoretical trainings were conducted in first aid and rescue, in cooperation with Palestinian Civil Defense, Medical Relief, and the Village Council. These trainings contributed to enhancing participants’ skills and improving their ability to respond to emergency situations. Equipped with the skills they gained, volunteers carried out evacuation drills in village schools, secured community events, and provided first aid for emergency cases—demonstrating their advanced readiness, quick intervention capabilities, and commitment to serving their community.

The initiative directly responds to the needs of ʿAṭāra village, which suffers from limited access to medical services and frequent emergency incidents. The village urgently requires preparedness in first aid services, improved readiness, increased awareness, and enhanced risk-management skills, especially given the current security situation and recurring settlers’ attacks. The settlement of Homesh is only 4 km away, and medical and ambulance services are located nearly 25 km from the village—making access to life-saving services extremely difficult during emergencies. The initiative thus represents a crucial effort to build local capacity capable of providing initial response, saving lives, and reducing harm before specialized teams arrive, particularly in light of the community’s limited resources and expertise.

The initiative also helped raise community awareness, rebuild trust in the role of youth, enhance their ability to protect their community, and strengthen long-term cooperation with local institutions.

Mahmoud Abdel-Hadi, one of the participating youth, said:

“Our initiatives are the first of their kind in the area, and they are important for strengthening community readiness to deal with emergencies, especially given the conditions we live in. They also enhanced participants’ awareness of the importance of rescue work and their social and leadership responsibilities.

Joan Deeb is young woman and a member of this initiative added: “This initiative reflects the vital and essential role of youth. Young people are the first responders, and they know their community’s needs, which gives them the ability to act quickly and effectively in emergency situations.”

Doaa Nasser is young woman who is a member of the organizing team of the initiative said: “This initiative had a positive impact on our personalities. It strengthened our sense of responsibility and confidence in our ability to act during emergencies and enhanced our teamwork spirit. It also encouraged us to take initiative in spreading proper awareness within the community.”

ActionAid Palestine’s approach focuses on investing in youth potential and supporting community-led initiatives that strengthen resilience and safety in marginalized villages. Youth engagement in emergency preparedness is not just an option—it is a national necessity to enhance community resilience and protect lives. Young people possess high energy, initiative, quick learning abilities, and familiarity with modern technologies, making them essential in rescue teams, awareness-raising efforts, and implementing evacuation and first-aid plans. Empowering them through training and knowledge helps build a conscious generation capable of effective crisis response, reducing disaster impacts, and reinforcing community safety networks. By involving them in planning and implementation, youth become a driving force for stability and a key pillar in protecting their communities and enhancing preparedness to face diverse challenges.

About ActionAid International
ActionAid International is a global federation working with more than 41 million people in over 72 of the world’s poorest countries. We strive to build a just and sustainable world where every person enjoys the right to a life of dignity, freedom, and a future free from poverty and oppression. We work to achieve social justice, gender equality, and the eradication of poverty.

ActionAid Palestine began its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian people, affirming their right to freedom, justice, and self-determination. ActionAid Palestine implements several programs in collaboration with Palestinian communities, youth groups, and women, seeking to empower women and youth and enhance their active civic and political participation. The organization works to strengthen their understanding of rights, support collective action to address rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation and improve their leadership capacities to exercise citizenship and hold authorities and other duty-bearers accountable.

For more information, please contact:
Riham Jafari
Communications and Advocacy Officer, ActionAid Palestine
Email: Riham.Jafari@actionaid.org