Introductory meetings within the "An Advanced Step Towards Change" project

The Palestinian Center for Democracy and Conflict Resolution held several introductory meetings with a number of youth groups within the "A Step Towards Change" project, implemented in partnership with the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) office. The project aims to support and empower marginalised groups of women and young people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip by strengthening fair political participation and social accountability between the sexes so that they can claim their rights. The meetings were held at the Centre's office in Gaza.
The meetings were opened by Ms. Samar Hamad, lobbying and advocacy campaigns consultant, who in turngave a full explanation of the project's idea and objectives and of the main activities expected to be carried out in the coming phase. Ms. Hamad stressed the need for young people and women to take part in community and political work in order to claim their rights to freedom of expression and association.
For his part, Mr. Abdel Moneim Al-Tahrawi, project coordinator, explained that the project's activities include forming a youth coalition active in community and political work to claim their rights to freedom of expression and association, delivering training courses for young people on social accountability and citizenship, and running courses for women active in community work on developing their skills in political participation, presentation and debate.
Al-Tahrawi stressed that the project falls within the strategic partnership with the Norwegian People's Aid office, which has extended over more than eight years and will continue through this project for the next four years, during which the two teams will work to strengthen the values of integrity and the principles of social accountability.
It is worth noting that several further meetings will be held with a number of youth groups in the West Bank next week, completing the first phase of the project.