ActionAid Palestine Organizes Youth Leadership in Emergencies Training in the Northern West Bank
Ramallah – West Bank – The Global Platform Palestine (GPP)of ActionAid Palestine organized a specialized training titled “Youth Leadership in Emergencies”, targeting 22 young men and women from the governorates of Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarm.
The four-day in-person training was held in Ramallah and aimed at strengthening young people’s capacities to organize humanitarian responses, develop their leadership skills, and ensure their active participation in humanitarian decision-making. This comes within the context of their direct involvement in implementing humanitarian interventions through their associations and community initiatives.
This training represents the final phase of the series “Youth Leadership in Emergencies – Youth Leadership Handbook,” launched in 2024. Eight trainings were conducted targeting youth groups across different areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip, including members and volunteers of the HumanitarianYouth Group – Palestine, as well as several humanitarian community initiatives supported by ActionAid Palestine.
The training brought together representatives from Baqja Youth Group in Tulkarm, Impact Youth Club in Al-Attara, and Local Communities Foundation in Jenin. The sessions were facilitated by trainers Reem Erakat and Yousef Juma from GPP alongside co-trainers Rand Bakir and Falasteen Al-Noubani from the Humanitarian Youth Group.
The program included integrated theoretical and practical modules, covering team building; youth leadership concepts in emergencies; analysis of affected groups and communities; the history of humanitarian crises; core humanitarian principles and international humanitarian law; feminist leadership; protection and advocacy; as well as self-care and caring for others during humanitarian responses. The training concluded with evaluation sessions and lessons learned.
The training strengthened participants’ awareness of their humanitarian roles and enabled them to effectively apply humanitarian principles within their communities, reaffirming the importance of youth in crisis response. This reflects ActionAid Palestine’s commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.
Mudar Malham, one of the coordinators of the “Buqja” youth initiative, spoke about the importance of youth leadership in emergencies:
“The experience of displacement was a turning point for young people,a harsh experience, yet one that revealed their true role in society and their ability to take responsibility and lead community action during crises. This was clearly reflected in the displaced community’s capacity to remain resilient and secure the basic means of survival. Youth participation is not a secondary detail in community-building; it is its fundamental pillar. The recovery of young people and strengthening their role is the first step toward the recovery of society as a whole.”
Activist Mahmoud Abdulhadi emphasized the importance of youth leadership in emergencies:
“Youth leadership is a pivotal element in emergency situations, as young people are the group most capable of rapid movement, flexible thinking, and timely decision-making. In times of crisis, the true energy of youth emerges, along with their capacity to take initiative and assume responsibility.”
Activist Suad Owais spoke about the importance of youth roles and responsibilities during emergencies: “Young people make up nearly three-quarters of Palestinian society. This percentage reflects the scale of responsibility and the role they can play. Based on our belief that individuals best understand their own needs, we as youth possess a deep understanding of what we require to remain steadfast on our land, to stay resilient and stable, and to take initiative in fieldwork and effective communication.”
Falasteen Al-Noubani, a member of the Humanitarian Youth Group Palestine, highlighted the importance of youth leadership in emergencies: “Youth leadership is essential in emergency contexts because it forms the backbone of action. Young people represent the largest segment of Palestinian society and have significant influence and effectiveness in implementing activities, especially humanitarian interventions and emergency responses. Therefore, it is of utmost importance.”
ActionAid Palestine works to support young people in emergencies by empowering them to become active actors in humanitarian response, rather than merely recipients of assistance. The organization provides specialized training in youth leadership, crisis management, and psychological first aid, strengthening their capacity to protect themselves and their communities during crises. It also supports youth-led initiatives responding to urgent needs, such as aid distribution, awareness campaigns, and psychosocial support services. ActionAid ensures the meaningful participation of young women and men in planning and decision-making processes, believing that their engagement guarantees a more just, effective, and sustainable emergency response.
About ActionAid International
ActionAid International is a global federation working with more than 41 million people across over 72 of the world’s poorest countries. We strive for a world founded on justice and sustainability, where everyone enjoys a life of dignity, freedom, and a world free from poverty and oppression. Our work focuses on achieving social justice, gender equality, and eradicating poverty.
ActionAid began its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian people, grounded in their right to freedom, justice, and self-determination. In Palestine, ActionAid implements various programmes through engagement with Palestinian communities, youth groups, and women. We aim to empower women and young people, enhance their effective civic and political participation, deepen their understanding of their rights, and mobilize them to engage in collective action to address rights violations resulting from prolonged occupation. Additionally, we work to strengthen their leadership capacities and support them in practicing active citizenship by holding authorities and other duty bearers accountable.
For more information, please contact:
Riham Jafari
Communications and Advocacy coordinator – ActionAid Palestine