The «Youth Step» training camp opens

The Al-Aqsa Sports Club, in partnership with Pal-Think for Strategic Studies and FXB, opened the training camp “Khatwa Youth Camp”, within the activities of the project “Restoring hope to the youth and children of Gaza”, which aims to provide free spaces for Gazan youth for psychological release and recreation — the project coming especially as an emergency response after the latest aggression on the Gaza Strip in May 2021.

The camp's coordinator Hadeel Haroun welcomed the trainees, affirming that this camp's distinctiveness lies in its targeting of youth, they being society's pillar and the most influential group, and the group that must be supported in the first degree to re-whet their resolve and positive energy and their readiness to perform their role toward society. The camp targets the children's care providers, most of whom work as facilitators of psychological-support sessions with children — to prepare them physically and psychologically for undertaking the community works that would contribute to creating real positive change.

For his part, Mr Taher al-Assar, board member, thanked Pal-Think for the cooperation and hoped there would be more cooperation in the future, and that the Al-Aqsa Club is always in the service of all groups and supportive of them.
For her part, Ms Sally al-Sammak, projects coordinator at Pal-Think, thanked the participants and added that youth must have hope and come out of the pressures they pass through amid these difficult times and crises, and that they must strive and work to build their future.

The first day's activities began with acquaintance games for the participants, then discussion of the camp's aim, the following activities, and how to work to come out with a community initiative in which the different groups take part.

Worth mentioning is that the camp's events continue for five days, interspersed with recreational and coexistence activities and the planting of the values and concepts of voluntary work and the leading of community initiatives. Musical numbers and shows of the participating youth's talents will likewise be carried out, in addition to self-care activities through psychological and social support and a visit to the archaeological sites; and finally the camp will conclude with carrying out a coexistence day gathering the participants from all the partner institutions — and this supports interaction and the exchange of experience.