Promote the participation of youth, women in occupied Jerusalem
The Palestinian people in occupied Jerusalem lives in isolation facing serious threats to their identity. This is due to the illegal practices and policies of the Israeli Occupation and its Aparthied Wall. This led to a gap between Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem and Palestinians in other cities, leaving an overwhelming psychological impact on the different segments of the community. Moreover, the harsh circumstances facing the Jerusalemite Palestinians are due to the prohibition of a Palestinian body which is responsible for fulfilling various needs of Palestinian Jerusalemites.
- REFORM aims to mobilize the civil society towards lobbying for a more comprehensive and participatory governance system.
- It also seeks to contribute in overcoming the identity crisis which Jerusalemite Palestinians suffer due to the policies and practices of the Israeli occupation and the revival of their Palestinian identity.
- REFORM intends to form a cultural and social network between Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank (mainly Ramallah, Jericho and Bethlehem) in acknowledgement of the similarities in identities and living standards in these areas.
- Promoting social participation of women and youth in Jerusalem and the rest of the West Bank.
- REFORM strives to promote social participation of the youth and women through challenging the profound culture that prevents them from taking initiative to change their reality.
Through the GUSU project, REFORM aims to strengthen the identity of the Palestinians in occupied Jerusalem and re-build the gap between Palestinian Jerusalemites and their social and cultural surroundings. In addition, overcoming the obstacles presented by the imposed separation between different parts of the Palestinian society. REFORM aims at creating responsive systems; promotion of culture and social Palestinian heritage, and fostering the participation of youth and women in political life, especially in occupied Jerusalem to revive the Palestinian identity.
- The formation of three groups that represent local communities. These groups consist of participants from: occupied Jerusalem, Ramallah, Jericho and Bethlehem, with significant participation of young Palestinian women.
- REFORM looks forward to attract trained facilitators who would use their gained knowledge to implement structural and cultural change in their communities.
- Through the meetings, participants would focus on the similarities between different identity components (citizens of occupied Jerusalem and other areas) and values.
- It is also expected that these participants would benefit from the space offered by the project and an increase in participation of activists from occupied Jerusalem in social and cultural activities.
The Palestinian Association for Empowerment and Local Development