*"Aouna Festival… 25 Years of Loyalty and Belonging"*
The Story of the National Festival to Honor Palestinian Volunteers

In a land born from the ashes of the Nakba, nurtured on struggle and resilience, there had to be a space to celebrate those who did not wait for a job or official assignment, but rather carried the homeland on their shoulders, dedicating their time and love to serving the people... These are the volunteers, and the celebration of them is called: Aouna.

Twenty-five years ago, a small idea emerged in a passionate youth forum in Palestine. Through faith and partnerships, it evolved into an annual national festival, which today includes over 400 Palestinian institutions and is sponsored by burning spirits of belonging like those of the Sharek Youth Forum. In strategic partnership with Palestinian institutions, they gave it a simple yet meaningful name: Aouna.

Aouna is not just a celebration, but an annual national ritual to renew the pledge with the land, affirm belonging to the identity, and emphasize that a Palestinian does not wait for instructions to serve their people. Every year, people gather to light the flame of recognition for those who work quietly and make a change from the heart of marginalized communities, in Jerusalem, refugee camps, villages, and the Jordan Valley.

Aouna platforms have witnessed the crowning of stories of volunteers who wrote their names in the soil, not with ink: those who developed education in remote areas, those who provided first aid during attacks, those who built agricultural roads between isolated villages, and those who confronted the occupation with words, activities, and volunteering. Some are women, some are people with disabilities, some are children of prisoners and martyrs, but all share one thing: giving.

And because every idea has a beacon, the “Dr. Haidar Abdul Shafi Award for Outstanding Volunteerism” was established to immortalize the legacy of this great man, who in his life was a national symbol of integrity, volunteerism, and belonging. It is more than an award; it is a badge of honor for anyone who chose to be at the forefront without being invited.

Twenty-five years of crowning cannot be measured by the number of awards, but by the number of hearts inspired, the initiatives born, and the community strengthened thanks to these volunteers. The Aouna festival has become a national tradition that is unique to Palestine: brave, ever-renewing, and extending across the map of giving from the sea to the river.

Every year, when Bader Zamareh, the coordinator of the National Committee, announces the start of the new season, everyone knows it is time to recall every olive tree that needs a volunteer’s hand and every small dream that was realized because someone believed that good is an action that cannot be postponed.

Aouna... is a renewed promise that Palestine is fine, as long as it has those who light its nights with their hands, without waiting for a reward.