Tala’at Al- Hajaj: Model of Impactful role of Protection and Response Youth Committees During times of War
Occupied Palestinian Territories – Tala’at is a Palestinian young activist living in Gaza and experiencing war conditions and illegal air, ground and sea blockade. Tala’at tries to serve his people under these conditions, and he is on the frontlines responding to the needs of his community under times of war. Through Youth-Led Committees established by ActionAid and its partners, active youth as Tala’at are offered opportunities to join those committees to release their potential and show their leadership roles during times of crisis and emergencies.
The condition of repeated wars and crisis impact Tala’at as other young people in Gaza especially the most recent one which was waged in October 2023. Over the past year, young people have witnessed traumatic events, lost families and friends, suffered from hunger and thirst, lost homes, and were unable to go to school since the start of war. This war is causing unprecedent humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, with over 50,000 killed, more than 110,000 injured, and nearly the entire population displaced, many multiple times. There is no doubt that the war has taken a heavy toll on young Palestinians in Gaza. Most young people in Gaza have no other memory than the Israeli air, land and sea blockade since 2007. They have been living in Gaza under repeated wars and illegal air, sea and ground prison and limited opportunities caused by shrinking economic, democratic and public spaces for utilizing their potential, raise their concerns and utilize their energy in serving the community where duty bearers and authorities are not taken sufficient actions to promote youth roles in building their communities and serving marginalized groups
Tala’at has changed those hard conditions into a blessing by being an active member in serving his community. He joined youth Led Protection and Response Committees through ActionAid’s partner, Wefaq society for women and Child Care. Members of YLCs have become known and grown in Gaza strip where they have become an influential force recognized as active humanitarian actors who try to support increasing humanitarian needs of displaced people by working and networking community organizations to provide them with lifesaving services, coordinating emergency aid distribution, providing psychosocial support to affected families, and mobilizing rapid-response teams to address urgent needs such as shelter and food.
Through his humanitarian work, Tala’at tries to create a positive change in perception of community towards youth. Tala’at said: “as part of the humanitarian response, we provided blankets and clothing. When people were displaced from the north to the south, we carried out an emergency response by providing displaced people with water and food on Salah Al-Din Street. The people's reaction was positive, and I felt then that I was part of the community, and I can offer something good to my people and my country."
The humanitarian initiatives and actions led by Members of YLCs as Tala’at during war increase the recognition and acceptance of community to roles of young people. This recognition can be touched by increasing demands of community members and youth for placing youth at heart of humanitarian work as Tala’at believes: “youth are the backbone of the nation. If youth don’t participate in building their country, then who will? Youth are the future; Youth represent thought, power, will and determination. Our community can’t be strong without youth.
The membership of those committees strengthens the characters and life skills of its young members who report improved confidence, self-esteem, and sense of purpose. Tala’at said: “serving my community through a youth committees gives me a great inner satisfaction. Each member of youth committees has become an active member playing a great and important social role and have unique initiatives”.
ActionAid and Wefaq established those youth committees to strengthen the rights, leadership and resilience of women and young people in Gaza. They increased membership and the influence of those committees so that they could respond to the ongoing needs of the communities in Gaza. Through membership of YLCs, the capacities of youth were improved and built through training on humanitarian work, in-depth training to develop their knowledge and skills in youth leadership, human rights -based approaches and humanitarian responses in decision-making and other skills related to civic engagement.
Tala’at has utilized these trainings in expanding his influence and establishing key networks with other youth and community organizations and coalitions. Tala’at described how membership of YLCs contribute to improving his skills and building his characters and deepening his understanding to the needs of our community Tala’at siad : “ I have worked on developing my skills and I strive to have a wide positive impact. We try to be like the 'butterfly effect' helping others and supporting our families and the first-degree community we belong to. It is wonderful to be a positive person in the community”.
The roles and trainings offered through YLCS on advocacy and human rights have contributed to increasing the legal knowledge of youth about laws and their enforcement in their context. Tala’at said : “I did not have a deep knowledge about rights and laws for protection and rights of marginalized groups during war, but now I have good knowledge in this regard and being a member in Youth- Led protection and response committees introduced me to laws that ensure the rights of marginalized groups and strengthened my character. It made me an important and influential person in my community”.
Members of YLCs in Gaza cannot cover all the needs of their community as they are constrained by ongoing bombing, aid blockades and limited resources. Tala’at wishes to serve more people and areas, but ongoing war and bombing impede implementation of all humanitarian actions and initiatives. Tala’at said: “I try as much as I can to expand the scope of the humanitarian and community work, I’m involved in but challenges of war obstruct us from reaching many people, our only demand is now ceasefire and ending war ”.
About ActionAid International
ActionAid International is a global federation working with over 41 million people living in more than 72 of the world's poorest countries. We envision a world characterized by justice and sustainability, where every individual has the right to a dignified life and freedom, and a world free from poverty and oppression. We strive to achieve social justice, gender equality, and eradicate poverty.
ActionAid Palestine began its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian people, believing in their right to enjoy freedom, justice, and self-determination. ActionAid Palestine implements several programs through its engagement with Palestinian communities and youth and women’s groups, aiming to empower women and youth and enhance their active civil and political participation to understand their rights and undertake collective action to address the rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation, in addition to improving their leadership capacity and practicing their citizenship in holding authorities and other duty bearers accountable.
For more information, please contact:
Riham Jafari
Communication and Advocacy Officer at ActionAid Palestine
Mobile: +972 595242890
Email: Riham.Jafari@actionaid.org