The Youth and Community Initiatives Support Program is one of Sharek Youth Forum’s key platforms for youth-led action and community resilience. Through this programme, Sharek has implemented 1,000+ community initiatives across Palestine, reaching 450,000+ beneficiaries—including youth, women, and persons with disabilities—through the efforts of 800 volunteers. These initiatives respond to urgent community needs while strengthening civic engagement, local ownership, and practical solutions led by young people.
What makes this programme distinctive is its structured support model: Sharek helps youth groups identify community priorities, design realistic initiatives, and implement them safely and effectively—with guidance, follow-up, and learning support throughout the process. Initiatives are selected through a transparent process that prioritizes relevance, feasibility, and community impact, and participants are supported to document results and capture lessons learned.
Highlights
- 1,000+ community initiatives
- 450,000+ beneficiaries reached
- 800 volunteers engaged
How It Works
Youth teams move through a practical journey that transforms ideas into impact:
- Identify needs through community consultations and local observations
- Design initiatives with clear objectives, roles, and simple implementation plans
- Implement and deliver activities with technical guidance and coordination support
- Reflect and report outcomes to strengthen learning, accountability, and future improvement
Key Focus Areas
1) Health and Sanitation
- supporting access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation
- rehabilitation of basic health-related infrastructure
- community awareness on disease prevention and healthy practices
2) Support for Displaced Communities
- improving conditions in shelters and camps through rehabilitation and basic upgrades
- enhancing safety through lighting and essential services
- rapid community support initiatives to address urgent needs
3) Cultural Heritage Preservation
- olive picking activities and community events that strengthen identity and solidarity
- embroidery workshops that preserve traditional skills and create opportunities for women
4) Advocacy and Community Resilience
- initiatives that raise awareness of community needs and promote rights-based responses
- strengthening psychosocial resilience through peer support and community engagement
5) Women’s Empowerment
- skills-building opportunities such as embroidery training
- supporting small income-generation activities linked to local skills and needs
6) Health Awareness
- targeted awareness activities on priority health topics (e.g., polio, skin diseases, breastfeeding, and reproductive health)
7) Psychological Support and Child-Friendly Activities
- art- and play-based activities that support children’s wellbeing and emotional relief
8) Capacity Building Workshops
- sessions on rights awareness, volunteerism during crises, and transforming harmful gender roles
