Holistic Adolescent Health
Sharek Youth Forum is a leading youth organization in Palestine with extensive experience in empowering adolescents and young people through rights-based, community-centred, and context-sensitive approaches. As part of this vision, the Forum promotes holistic adolescent health by recognizing that young people’s well-being is shaped by the interaction of physical, psychological, social, educational, and cultural factors.
Through its programmes and initiatives, Sharek Youth Forum works to create supportive environments in which adolescents and young people can develop self-awareness, resilience, meaningful social connections, and informed decision-making. This reflects the Forum’s commitment to responding to the realities and priorities of Palestinian youth in ways that are relevant, culturally grounded, and age-appropriate.
Promoting Mental and Psychosocial Well-being
Sharek Youth Forum implements programmes that strengthen self-confidence, self-awareness, and emotional expression among adolescents and young people. These are essential foundations for mental and psychosocial well-being. The Forum also promotes critical thinking and supports young people in navigating social pressures and everyday challenges in healthy and constructive ways, contributing to greater emotional resilience and personal stability.
Strengthening Social Well-being and Safe Environments
Through interactive activities, youth groups, and community-based initiatives, Sharek Youth Forum fosters social inclusion, healthy relationships, and a stronger sense of belonging. It also creates safe and supportive spaces where young people can build essential life skills, including communication, problem-solving, stress management, and teamwork. These efforts contribute to their overall well-being and quality of life.
Awareness, Learning, and Capacity Building
Awareness-raising and education are central to Sharek Youth Forum’s work. Through structured programmes and youth-led initiatives, the Forum helps adolescents and young people better understand their rights, their health, and the challenges they face in everyday life. It also invests in the development of young activists and peer educators, enabling them to play an active role in promoting health, well-being, and positive change within their communities.
Adolescent Health, Sexual and Reproductive Health, and Comprehensive Sexuality Education
Sharek Youth Forum gives particular attention to adolescent health, including sexual and reproductive health and comprehensive sexuality education, within an age-appropriate and culturally sensitive framework. The Forum works to provide adolescents, young people, and their families with accurate, reliable, and accessible information on a range of topics, including:
These topics are delivered through professionally designed programmes tailored to different age groups and implemented in safe, respectful, and non-judgmental environments. The Forum’s interventions engage children, adolescents, young people, as well as parents and caregivers, helping participants to make informed choices, better understand their rights and responsibilities, and distinguish reliable health information from myths, stigma, and misinformation.
Contributing to Knowledge and Policy Development
In addition to programme implementation, Sharek Youth Forum has contributed to national studies and research related to adolescent health and sexual and reproductive health. This reflects the Forum’s commitment to understanding the evolving needs of young people in Palestine and to supporting the development of more responsive, evidence-based, and inclusive policies and programmes.
Through all of its work, Sharek Youth Forum advances a holistic understanding of adolescent health and well-being that brings together physical, psychological, and social dimensions. In doing so, it seeks to support a generation of informed, confident, resilient, and engaged young people who are able to participate actively and responsibly in their communities.
Sharek and the Palestinian Adolescent Health Coalition