FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
National Network
Palestine
Address
BeitsahourCountry
City
BethlehemProvince
BethlehemStreet address 2
old cityMobile Phone
+970568811809Telephone
+9722773104E-Mail (2)
natalie_tawil@yahoo.comYear of Establishment
2012Contact Person1
Dr. Natalie TawilJob Title 1
Head of boardsContact Person 2
Elian QumseyiehJob Title 2
viceOrganisation Type
Non-Governmental OrganizationFields of Activity
Heritage, International/Cultural relations, Youth and educationGeneral Information
We are a group of interested educators and professionals who believe that we have a responsibility towards our children and youth within our deteriorated long-standing political conflict and control by the Israeli occupation that surely impacts our life in all its aspects. As an outcome of such long oppression, we are witnessing serious indicators among our children and youth of mal adjustment, identity confusion, and loss of a well-balanced psychosocial development. We would like to translate our interest and obligation to our children and youth in a meaningful and out of the box programs that counter fights these phenomena and promotes social awareness among families, schools, decision makers and community in general in an organized approach that clearly identify problems and long term solution. Mediation among other approaches proved to be an effective tool in developing intervention for schoolchildren as well as youth groups in Palestine.
WASATA society was founded by a group of educators and community development professionals, registered as an NGO at the Palestinian Interior Ministry on July 2013 with registration No: BL-3369-E. The society came into existance in response to the immense importance of mediation (WASATA) between students as a means of conflict resolution through negotiation that is facilitated by other peers at the school setting. Developing personal social skills like problem analysis, negotiations, effective communication verbally and nonverbally, active listening, identifying common interests, planning, and implementation are land marks and corner stone in developing a well balanced and integrated personality and an value/belief system that respect and accept others, resolve problems and dispute through negotiation rather than violence and aggressiveness with self confidence characteristics. Develop these personal qualities and characteristics constitute our mission, as we believe that aggressive and violent attitudes are dominant behaviors among our youth and community at large. Counter fight these behaviors are very important among our youth and should be adopted by families, schools, as well as social institutions. Providing WASATA as an alternative mean to conflict resolution and develop among our youngsters the needed skills and values of accepting other, negotiate disputes, and cooperate with other peers to resolve problems is our working methodology at WASATA. Our goal is to introduce mediation techniques and values among our schoolchildren, teachers, and parents
Mission and Objectives
Mission: Wasata center for youth enrichment will be recognized as a center of excellence that gives young people the tools and mechanisms to effectively contribute to sustainable human development in Palestine by facilitating interdisciplinary training programs, skills development, and provide the necessary tools to guide and empower youth towards this end.
Vision: Wasata center for youth enrichment will be recognized as a center of knowledge and excellence that provide young Palestinians the tools and mechanisms to effectively contribute to a sustainable human development in Palestine by:
1-Develop a well balanced psycho-social individuals and assist children and youth to reach adulthood development stage with needed values, believes, and skills that make them productive and active participant in their community lives.
•Plan and implement Extracurricular activities and programs for school students and teachers, youth organizations, and spot clubs to build better communication skills, problems solving abilities, social skills as accepting the other, and community involvement.
• Foster a bride personal and national identity and belonging by raising awareness of history, culture, and role of Palestinians in human culture.
• Break down cultural and social barriers between religious groups, rural and town dwellers, tribal mentality and practices.
•Fight political and religious extremism and fundamentalism among youth by developing and internalizing values of accepting the other, dialogue skills, and human rights values.
2-Conduct and produce studies and researches on social, mental, physiological, and physical needs of Palestinian children within their culture values and practices as basis for the society programs development instead of using readymade programs that had been developed for different cultures and different social environment.
•Encourage such studies and researches among universities social studies collages through means of research completions, publishing, and/or sponsoring such studies.
•Evaluating and develop our programs and make them available for the general public as well as specialists for development and enrichment.
•Join national and international seminars and workshops and adopt other standardized programs with cultural adaptations.
3-Develop and run a recognized and licensed center for teacher’s continuous training and development on developmental needs and educational methodologies that take individuals as whole and care for their integrated development.
•Plan and conduct teacher’s refreshing courses in issues of interests; mediation as means for development, new approaches and techniques findings in education and child care.
•Reach out for schools, foster homes, kindergartens and cater training programs that can be conduct at the center and on job.
4-Policy formulation and review with the participation of youth;
5- Capacity development for the transition to adulthood
6- Civic engagement, democratic participation, and social innovation
Main Projects / Activities
1. ورشات عمل للاطفال
2. اطلاق كتب
3. ندوات ثقافية تفاعلية
4. عرض افلام
5. مشروع حكاية مكان
6ز مهرجانات ثقافية
7. توثيق الموروث الشفوي
8. معارض فنية
9ز معرض نقوش قلسطين القديمة وكتاباتها
How can you contribute to the Network in your country?
To contribute effectively to the Network in my country, We focus on the following areas:
Building Strong Collaborations
Facilitate connections between the Network and key cultural, educational, and governmental institutions in the country.
Leverage my existing relationships and roles to bring together diverse stakeholders for joint initiatives.
Promoting National Identity and Cultural Heritage
Develop and implement projects that highlight the country's cultural richness and historical significance.
Organize workshops, exhibitions, and storytelling sessions to engage communities and preserve heritage.
Enhancing Youth and Educational Engagement
Create programs that empower youth to actively participate in cultural and educational projects, fostering leadership and innovation.
Integrate the Network's initiatives into schools and universities to promote awareness and collaboration.
Utilizing Technology and Media
Develop digital platforms to share the Network's resources, events, and achievements with a wider audience.
Use social media and online campaigns to amplify the Network’s impact and encourage community involvement.
Conducting Research and Sharing Knowledge
Undertake studies that align with the Network’s objectives, particularly in areas like education, cultural heritage, and social development.
Publish findings and best practices to support the Network’s goals and inspire other members.
Monitoring and Evaluation
Set clear objectives for local initiatives and regularly assess their impact to ensure alignment with the Network’s vision.
Share insights and feedback with the Network to continuously improve and adapt strategies.
Why do you want to join the ALF Network?
Joining the Anna Lindh Foundation (ALF) Network aligns deeply with my commitment to fostering intercultural dialogue, preserving cultural heritage, and empowering communities through education and collaboration. Here’s why I am motivated to be part of this Network:
1. Promoting Shared Values
- ALF’s mission to bridge cultural divides resonates with my own work in strengthening national identity while embracing diversity. Being part of the Network offers a platform to contribute to and amplify these shared values.
2. Leveraging Collaborative Opportunities
- The Network provides a unique opportunity to collaborate with like-minded organizations and individuals across the Euro-Mediterranean region. This collaboration can help create impactful initiatives that address local and regional challenges.
3. Enhancing Cultural and Educational Impact
cultural development, I see the ALF Network as a chance to share experiences, learn best practices, and scale up programs that promote dialogue, inclusion, and heritage preservation.
4. Accessing Resources and Expertise
- The ALF Network is a hub of knowledge, innovation, and resources. Joining it would allow me to access tools, training, and research that can enhance the quality and reach of my initiatives.
5. Advocating for Change
- Being part of the Network would empower me to advocate for policies and projects that align with my vision of a sustainable, inclusive, and culturally rich society.
6. Contributing to Regional Stability and Peace
- I believe that intercultural dialogue is key to building understanding and reducing tensions. Through the Network, I can play a role in fostering mutual respect and cooperation across different communities.
Ultimately, joining the ALF Network would provide a platform to both contribute to and benefit from a dynamic exchange of ideas and efforts aimed at creating a more inclusive and harmonious world.