Can empowering a new generation with the right values end conflict?
Peace & Governance ▼Israel & Palestine
Fostering peace requires addressing all strata of society from grass roots initiatives all the way up to high level diplomacy. Here, we look at the work done by Zimam, a Palestinian organisation part of the bigger movement of One Voice, which unites Israelis and Palestinians towards a solution to end the conflict.
The Problem
The median age in Palestine is around 19, while the political leaders' average ages is over 70. With little possibility of negotiations on the horizon for the time being, Palestinian youth feel disempowered, ignored, and hopeless. The risk of radicalisation and falling prey to the false promises and mythologies of violence is high, and the opportunities to play an active role in affecting change have hitherto been small.
The Solution
Zimam empowers a new generation with the values of democracy, pluralism, tolerance, non-violence, and acceptance. Through its 24 chapters across the West Bank and Gaza strip, it trains thousands of young Palestinians in order for them to become opinion and social leaders in their communities. They build campaigns to encourage a strong and resilient Palestinian society and state devoid of extremism. They work in cities, towns, and in periphery communities where political leaders never take the time to visit. They also run programmes for women, sheikhs and imams in mosques and community centres, and work in refugee camps across the West Bank enabling Palestinians to lead, to speak, and to be heard, with the physical and social tools to non-violently progress Palestinian society.
Who
Samer Makhlouf
_
In addition to more than 8 years as the Executive Director of OneVoice Palestine, Same has extensive experience in a broad range of non-profit and business organizations in Palestine. Prior to his post with OneVoice, Samer served as the Head of Ramallah’s Al Kasaba Theater & Cinematheque Programs & Development Department. As a member of the Palestinian Council for Young Political Leaders, he has established a wide network of connections with Palestinian politicians, organizations, and institutes.
take a field trip
Learn more about the region by meeting key players and experiencing the situation through a 5 days trip (October 21-26th) in Israel and Palestine. One Voice has a few places available for Walk The Talk as part of its VIP delegation. You will meet with high-level political leaders, diplomats, security experts, and will have the chance to see the grassroot work in action. See the programme for last year here
Donate Money for 2020
Zimam's next project, Transform, will take pianos to six public places across the West Bank, for a free 30-minute concert open to the public. In many places in Palestine, playing music in public is a taboo and very unusual. These performances will run alongside a guerrilla social media campaign that will seek to have hundreds of thousands of Palestinians talking about the values of Palestine and how freedom of speech, of culture, and of people, can be better secured non-violently. Programme cost: US$ 80,000 USD.
+ Donate by Bank Transfer (free)
Please reference Walk The Talk
Sortcode 09-01-29 Account Number 25375497
Swift ABBYGB2LXXX Iban GB63 ABBY09 0129 2537 5497
+ Donate by Credit Card (2%cc fee)
To avoid high fees, consider a bank transfer for £1000+ donations
+ If you are an employee, choose payroll giving
If your employer has a payroll giving scheme, your donation is deducted from gross pay – before tax is deducted. A £1,000 donation will only cost you £800 pounds and if you are a higher rate tax payer, 600£.
Find out if your employer offers payroll giving.
The impact of your 2018-2019 donation
The donations specifically supported the Leadership Incubator, a monthly programme for 40 chosen Palestinian youth to give them training in how to run campaigns and ultimately, to become elected leaders of the future.
Related events and projects
Building Peace
See how you can help Conciliation Resources in supporting dialogue, repairing relationshsips, and working with all those involved in and affected by a conflict.
What is the future of humanitarian aid?
A conversation with MSF on reshaping humanitarian action in the face of future challenges.
How can we resolve a 100-year old conflict?
A conversation with Samer Makhlouf, CEO of Zimam, and Matt Waldman, founder of the Center for Empathy in International Affairs.