Sharek Youth Forum organises and participates in the United Nation Volunteers annual retreat in Jericho

On the occasion of the International Volunteer Day, Sharek Youth Forum, in cooperation with the UNV program, organized the annual retreat program for the United Nations’ Volunteers. This annual retreat came as part of the United Nations’ Volunteers program that calls for the exchange and sharing of experiences and learning from others. It is an annual gathering that aims to get the volunteers together and have them talk about their volunteering roles and experiences in their communities.

This year retreat was organized by Sharek Youth Forum. It took place in the Intercontinental Hotel in Jericho on the 8^th and 9^th of December 2007. Forty young people participated in the event. The Millennium Development Goals were a major topic that played a big part throughout the program. A talk was given by Mr. Bader Zamareh, the executive director of Sharek Youth Forum, about the MDG’s and the way that they are being implemented through the work of volunteers. Furthermore, the practical experience aspect was highlighted by Mrs. Hiba Barakat, a program analyst in the UNDP/PAPP about development practices that address poverty reduction. The concept of gender was also brought to the table by Mrs. Allia Elyasser, the UNIFEM program manager. She gave a talk about gender and certain misconceptions about the topic. Examples from the field were highlighted by the participants and this was followed by a discussion that emphasized different opinions, inputs, and beliefs.

Overall the UNV retreat was a great experience for all the forty participants. It highlighted once again the importance of volunteering for youth through the following three elements: Giving, Empowerment and Involvement!