Implementing CSO: Palestinian Union for Deaf

 

Objectives:

- To enhance the participation of people with hearing impairments in the different forms of elections, in a way that covers the marginalized geographical areas, Bedouin communities, and rural areas, as well as the youth and women with hearing impairments.

- To raise awareness on the importance of elections (general and local) among people with hearing impairments.

- To raise awareness on mechanisms of participation in elections among people with hearing impairments using simulations.

 

Activities:

Seven (7) awareness workshops on the electoral process, its mechanism of conduction, and how people with hearing impairments’ can participate in it.

Implementing CSO: Sharek Youth Forum

 

Objectives:

- To enhance the youth representation in local organizations and institutions.

- Youth empowerment through tailor designed projects.

- To link the youth to local issues and enhance their engagement and participation.

- To raise the youth awareness on their rights and duties.

- To empower the youth through leadership training.

 

Activities:

- Five (5) regional workshops.

- The formation of an active youth council through elections.

-A training program to build the capacities of the members of the formed youth council.

Implementing CSO: Cooperation for Community Development Association

 

Objectives:

- To raise awareness on democracy, enhance political participation and support transparency and good governance.

To build the capacities of the youth and women in the political field/s.

 

Activities:

- Two (2) workshops on the principles of democracy and human rights.

- Four (4) training programs targeting the youth and women to build their leadership and political capacities.

- Two (2) symposiums and discussion sessions (Town-hall meetings) with the leaders of local community and governmental officials to discuss issues of political participation.

- Four (4) workshops, targeting the volunteers, on observing elections to ensure integrity and transparency.

- Civic education programs: developing education programs at schools and universities to enhance political awareness among the students by establishing five debate clubs at selected schools and universities for addressing political and social issues.

 

Implementing CSO: Madarat Center for Community Development

 

Objectives:

- To enhance the capacities of the youth and their awareness in the areas of accountability and community dialogue.

- To enhance the values of democracy, citizenship and accountability.

- To improve the preparedness and readiness of elected local authorities to positively interact with the community dialogue efforts.

 

Activities:

1) Recruitment of 28 young persons (females and males) to be part of the “Youth Accountability Taskforce” and providing them with six training hours on the following topics::

• Concepts of democracy, citizenship, good governance and community-based accountability.
• The importance of community-based accountability, its standards and principles.
• Goals of community-based accountability and its success factors. .

2) Organizing preparatory sessions/simulations for the members of the “Youth Accountability Taskforce” in preparation for the four (4) accountability sessions to be organized in Nablus and Bethlehem governorates. The accountability sessions will include a revision of the electoral agenda of local authorities to identify the items providing electoral promises to the youth.

3) Coordination with four (4) local authorities and stakeholders in the areas where the accountability and community dialogue sessions will be organized. The sessions shall address issues related to the youth in the area/s where they are organized.

4) Conducting the accountability sessions.

Implementing CSO:Al-Awda Center for Childhood and Youth Rehabilitation

 

Objectives:

Training the youth on interactive theater skills and empowering them to spread electoral awareness.

 

Activities:

- Training of twenty (20) young persons (females and males).

- Theater performances in twenty (20) local communities.

- A community committee with twenty (20) members to carry out community awareness campaigns.

 

Implementing CSO:Old City Youth Association (OCYA) – Jerusalem

 

Objectives:

- To raise awareness of the youth and women on human rights and democratic foundations.

- Increase the bonds within the community fabric, enhancing moral and aspiring for a better future.

 

 

Activities:

- Twenty (20) workshops on various issues related to human rights, democracy, elections, women rights and other relevant topics.

- One training session on the principles of democracy, human rights and elections.

Implementing CSO:The Center for Defending Liberties and Civil Rights (Hurryyat)

 

Objectives:

- To realize a strong public opinion advocating for the necessity of carrying out general and legislative elections.

- To enhance political legitimacy.

- To enhance democracy and civil participation, since general elections serve as a platform for citizens.

- To enhance peace and political stability and to provide a stable political environment in Palestine.

- To enhance national unity and the Palestinian identity while enhancing the sense of national belongingness and maintaining the notion of the Palestinian State.

 

Activities:

- Three (3) extended workshops in the city centers (Ramallah, Nablus and Hebron) with the participation of representatives of political factions, communities, popular and trade unions.

- Three (3) awareness workshops targeting youth groups with the aim of reviving the notion of general elections, to emphasize the importance of political participation of Palestinian citizens as well as the importance of carrying out elections so that they can practice their democratic rights. Moreover, the workshops aim to enhance the political, social and legal conditions.

- Issuing and circulating a position paper on elections, reflecting the key recommendations and directions.

- Round-table discussions with the political factions and communities, as well as representatives of trade unions and CSOs regarding the position paper and next steps.

 

Implementing CSO: The Palestinian Consultative Staff for Developing NGOs (PCS)

 

Objectives:

 

- To promote elections through social dialogue in the locations that formed their councils by acclamation.
- To achieve active participation of the marginalized groups, especially the youth and women with disabilities.

 

Activities:

- Formation of youth committees (citizenship committees) in ten (10) locations where councils were formed by acclamation. The committees will be comprised of youth from the age group 17-25, half of whom are women, and each committee should be comprised of one person with disability at least.

- Ten (10) workshops targeting the youth on citizenship from the perspective of participating in the elections, providing them with the tools of social dialogue and fruitful advocacy. Two workshops (2) will be held in each location.

- Ten (10) social dialogue meetings with grassroots CSOs in the targeted areas as well as the local authority and leaders of local community. Each citizenship committee shall lead a social dialogue session in its location with two aims, the first is related to awareness raising and the second is related to producing a community code of conduct against winning the next elections by acclamation.

- Central debate in Jenin with the participation of the committees from all locations who will debate winning by acclamation in relation to citizenship and reform processes, in the presence of a jury from the Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA), the Mayor, and an academic, followed by a discussion.

- A central advocacy campaign in Jenin titled “No Acclamation after today”.

 

Implementing CSO: Human Rights and Democracy Media Center - SHAMS

 

Objectives:

- To empower the youth to play a bigger role in enhancing democracy and accountability, thus enhancing the quality of services provided by local authorities.

- To enhance the youth’s awareness on the concepts of accountability, democracy and transparency.

- To develop the youth skills in leadership and community participation and engagement.

- To push local authorities to adopt more transparent policies.

- To enhance the role of the youth in affecting local policies in order to reflect their needs.

 

Activities:

- A training targeting fifteen (15) young females and males on the mechanisms of accountability.

- Accountability sessions with five (5) local authorities.

 

Implementing CSO:Palestine Monitor (Tahqaq), Deraya for Media and Digital Literacy

 

Objectives:

- To enhance the participation of the youth (both females and males) in decision-making and the ability to influence public opinion in service of enhancing the principles of transparency, accountability and the right to access information.

- To raise awareness of the youth (both females and males) on the concepts of democracy and human rights, as well as the importance of participating in the electoral process.

- To enhance critical thinking among the youth (both females and males) on the significance of the information they are exposed to during elections, and the impact of misleading information on voters’ behavior during the electoral process. Moreover, to enhance the practices of combating misinformation in relation to the electoral process as well as enhancing the practice of validation before publishing and interacting.

- To develop a methodology for accountability and assessing the integrity and transparency of electoral speeches and promises during elections.

 

Activities:

- Round-table discussions meeting on accountability journalism during elections.

- A three-day workshop aiming at enhancing electoral participation and a deeper understanding of democracy, while focusing on the importance of acquiring accurate and reliable information during elections. Moreover, it aims to enhance journalistic accountability during elections and the mechanisms of assessing the honesty and credibility of electoral and political speeches.

- An awareness day with a (corner) for information on the importance of youth participation in the electoral process and enhancing their critical thinking skills, as well as holding electoral campaigns and speeches accountable, and their assessment mechanisms.

- Electoral debate (simulation), using the tool of interactive theater.

 

 

Implementing CSO: The Arab World Democracy and Electoral Monitor (Al-Marsad)

 

Objectives:

- To look into the actual reasons behind the lack of submitting electoral lists in the 26 locations.

- To look into the actual reasons behind the repeated use of acclamation in several locations over the course of three electoral cycles.

- To suggest solutions to refraining from nomination and candidacy.

- To suggest interventions addressing the repeated use of acclamation.

- To influence the Ministry of Local Government’s (MoLG) policy concerning the classification of local authorities.

 

Activities:

1. Revision of the reports issued by the CEC, observation bodies and the media on former elections.

2. Developing an in-depth questionnaire covering acclamation and the areas with no nominated lists.

3. Conducting thirty-six (36) interviews in twelve (12) locations in the different governorates with no candidate lists (a representative from the local authority in question, a representative from a political faction and a community activist). Moreover, conducting six (6) interviews at the level of the governorate with the Directorate of Local Governance (MoLG), a CEC representative, and a representative of political factions to study the locations with no nominations.

4. Conducting forty-eight (48) interviews in eighteen (18) local authorities with repeated use of acclamation (the interviews should include a council member, a representative of political factions; given the selection of a political faction representative in each location covering all active factions, and an interview with a community activist. Selection should be gender-balanced.

5. Data entry of questionnaires.

6. Conducting three (3) round table discussions in the North, Middle and South of the West Bank.

7. Conducting a national workshop to discuss the research outcomes.

8. Developing a plan for ensuring the inclusion of the suggestions and recommendations of all target groups in the draft law, after introducing the proposed amendments to the Local Authorities’ Elections Law and follow up with MoLG.

9. Outcomes and results follow up during the meetings with all political factions to guarantee their ability to play a positive role in putting an end to refraining from nomination or the repeated use of acclamation. Moreover, to inform CSOs working in the areas of democracy and elections on the research outcomes and the recommendations concerning the mechanisms of interventions tailored for these locations.

10. Print out and disseminate the research.

 

Implementing CSO: Al-Ahli Qalqilia Club

 

Objectives:

- To enhance the democratic process by raising awareness on the importance of the electoral process among voters while increasing their participation in elections and facilitating their pioneer and leadership role in CSOs.

- To provide suggestions to Palestinian CSOs on the development and support of youth participation in public political life.

- To address the causes of the current gap between the Palestinian CSOs and youth, by identifying the tools necessary for addressing that gap, while reducing the obstacles and challenges facing CSOs work.

- To increase participants’ knowledge in the issues of negotiations, leadership, media skills, electoral laws, the international law and the use of technology as a mechanism for enhancing youth participation in political life.

 

Activities:

- A five-day training on the concepts of community leadership and the importance of the youth’s role in the decision-making process.

- A workshop discussing the key issues related to the challenges facing the youth concerning political participation, by hosting experts and specialists in the field.

- Two (2) round table discussions between the youth participating in the project, the members of elected local councils, and political parties’ leadership on the importance of engaging and including the youth in the decision-making process.

- A theater performance supporting the right of the youth to democracy and elections.

- Electoral simulation: forming a youth council following a training leading to its formation accompanied with a training (25 hours) for candidates on civil rights and liberties, political participation, Palestinian Elections Law, advocacy, community media, electoral campaigning and agendas.

- Awareness-raising workshop targeting university and college students to raise their awareness on the issues of elections and the importance of their participation and active role in university youth councils.

- Two awareness-raising meetings with the local community targeting the citizens of marginalized areas, persons with disabilities, and senior citizens (Political factions are encouraged to utilize the votes of persons with movement or cognitive disabilities).

- A discussion on the lack of sufficient spaces for persons with movement disabilities.

 

Implementing CSO: Palestinian General Union of People with Disability

 

Objectives:

To enhance the democratic and political participation of persons with disabilities through training, awareness raising and providing support necessary for enabling them to practice their political rights.

 

Activities:

- Ten (10) workshops and discussion sessions at universities, schools and associations.

- Eleven (11) workshops (1 workshop per governorate) covering topics of leadership, communication and political participation.

- Ten (10) training sessions using digital tools and social media to be conducted in Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem and Jenin.

- Ten (10) meetings with representatives of governmental institutions and NGOs in Ramallah, Nablus, Hebron, Bethlehem, and Jenin to enhance the participation of persons with disabilities in decision-making.

- Working with governmental institutions and NGOs to remove boundaries preventing persons with disabilities from participating in decision-making: developing a detailed report including recommendations and proposed solutions based on the meetings and discussions.

 

Implementing CSO: Future Youth Arms Forum (Sa’ed)

 

Objectives:

- To raise awareness among the youth on concepts related to political participation, democracy, elections, and activating the role of CSOs.

- To form and empower a youth group to be called (the Youth of Democracy) to act as an active body for the youth that supports spreading electoral awareness.

 

Activities:

- A promotional video on the program, its idea and outcomes.

- Two (2) introductory sessions about the program for recruiting trainees (Al-Quds University (AKA Abu Dies) – Doura branch, and Al-Quds Open University).

- A five-day training introducing concepts, electoral systems, governance and accountability, stages of the electoral process, preparing electoral agendas and campaigning.

- Simulation of the election of local authority councils.

- A workshop on women participation in elections (coinciding with the week for combating violence against women).

- A workshop on one of the most important human rights, the right to participate in the electoral process (coinciding with the international day for human rights). Invitations will include the heads and figures of local tribes/clans and members of local councils.

 

Implementing CSO: Tubas Sports Club

 

Objectives:

- To identify the reasons behind the youth and women refraining from participating in the community, in addition to submitting recommendations to the competent authorities.

- Raising women and youth awareness on their rights and the importance of their role with regards to participating in the elections.

- To contribute to increase the percentage of individuals participating in voting during the elections.

 

Activities:

- Recruitment of a youth group and providing them with a training of trainers (ToT).

- Two (2) workshops, 2 hours each, one targeting the youth and the other targeting women to discuss and explore the causes behind their refraining from participating in electoral and decision-making process, as well as agreeing on recommendations.

- Twelve (12) awareness workshops, 3 hours each, discussing with target groups the importance of participating in the elections and decision-making processes, as well as its impact on the society’s democratic journey (provided by two trainers, who received the ToT provided through the project).

- A cultural competition and a drawing workshop titled “Voting is our right and our duty”

Implementing Organization: Local Communities Organization

 

Goals:

- Motivating the youth to engage in active political participation through candidacy for the next local elections.

- Provide the youth with necessary training on leadership and local management skills to increase their readiness for elections and working in local authorities.

- Support the formation of independent electoral lists for the youth while providing technical and legal support to youth candidates.

- Implementation of community awareness campaigns on the importance of the youth role in municipal work while motivating voters to vote for them.

- Building Youth coalitions and support networks to empower the youth to collectively and successfully take part in the elections.

 

Activities:

7 Training days:

1) Two-days Training workshop for 30 participants on the elections law and regulatory procedures as well as a simulation of the process of candidacy and electoral campaigning

2) Two-days training on public speaking and political media, as well as the use of social media in electoral campaigning

3) In-depth training session on designing platforms for electoral lists

4) Training on how to form independent electoral lists and how to enter coalitions

Other activities:

5) Organizing 6 youth debate sessions on the importance of youth political and electoral participation

6) organizing 6 visits for the youth to members of local councils for exchanging experiences and expertise

Implementing Organization:Azzoun Development & Creativity of the Community Association

 

Goals:

1) To build the capacities of youth cadres (both females and males) in elections-related issues, and activating their political role in the society.

2) Raise community awareness on the importance of the culture of democracy, elections, and participation in the form of voting and candidacy.

3) Acquainting the local community in the targeted villages and residential communities with importance of elections and the CEC’s role.

4) To enhance knowledge and awareness within the local community on how to participate in elections, especially local elections in the form of candidacy and voting.

 

Activities:

1) A ToT comprehensive course “centralized training” including elections simulation, up to 35 training hours, targeting (20) youth of both sexes.

2) Conducting 12 awareness workshops in the towns and villages of Qalqilya and Salfit Governorate.

3) Launching a Facebook page for the project to recruit participants and enhance participation.

Implementing Organization:Tubas Charitable Society

 

Goals:

To raise awareness and support the engagement of the youth and women in political life through exercising their right to candidacy and voting, while developing their capacities in the development and management of community campaigns to raise awareness on the importance of their participation in political life and expanding it.

Strengthen and motivate the youth and women, increasing their participation rates in candidacy, voting and the wider participation in the democratic process to choose their representatives, enhance freedoms and political participation within the society, in addition to enhancing the public’s trust in electoral insitutions.

 

Activities:

1) Training an electoral cadre of 20 individuals equipping them with 20 hours of training, to develop their capacities and increase their knowledge to run elections.

2) Conducting seven training workshops for 15 participants, with the aim of developing their capacities and increasing their knowledge to participate in elections in the areas of: Ein Al-Baida, Bardala, Al-A’qaba, Tubas, Aqqaba, Tayasir and Al-Fari’ah.

3) Conducting two workshops targeting persons with disabilities in cooperation with their General Union.

4) Conducting three workshops with the Women Committee and the General Union of Palestinian Women.

5) A dialogue session with women who has experience with candidacy for local and municipal councils.

6) A radio broadcast to spread awareness on elections and the importance of participating in the democratic process in the Governorate of Tubas.

7) Designing an awareness video on the importance of elections and participation.

8) Organize and implement a competition for the best video for raising awareness on the importance of elections.

9) Conduct a Q&A competition to raise the young generations’ awareness on the electoral process.

Implementing Organization: ؛Palestinian Working Women Society

 

Goals:

- To enhance the capacities of female and male youth regarding the use of AI in designing electoral campaigns and programs, to act as supporters of electoral lists in the future, while focusing on the lists that include female and male youth, and women.

- To increase the percentage of female and male youth registered in the electoral registry who recently became of voting age by conducting comprehensive awareness campaigns.

- To enhance the sense of belongingness among the youth by increasing participation in local elections.

- To increase sensitivity among female and male decision makers towards the importance of integrating the youth (both females and males) into the electoral process while providing the necessary support through the planned set of activities.

 

Activities:

1) Training a group of youth (both females and males) on utilizing AI tools for designing electoral agendas and campaigns (comprehensive training for three days in each governorate); five hours per training day.

2) Implementing 6 workshops (3 in each governorate) to be implemented by the trainees (3 males and 3 females in each governorate) to transfer the knowledge acquired from the training to another group of beneficiaries. Each workshop is planned to be attended by 20 participants (both females and males).

3) Production of videos in coordination with the grassroots organizations and the shadow councils.

4) Launching a media campaign on social media platforms on the importance registration and participation in the elections.

 

Implementing Organizations: Meraki

 

Goals:

1. To train 30 youth (females and males) on the concept of effective citizenship as well as their civil and political rights.

2. To empower the participants to understand the right to vote, its significance and how to practice it.

3. To develop debate and discussion skills of the participants to enable them to efficiently express their opinions.

4. To organize visits to the municipalities (Hizma and Az-Z’ayyim) to inform the participants on the work of local councils and its role.

5. To encourage the participants to launch community campaigns after dividing them into groups in order to spread the knowledge they acquired.

 

Activities:

1) Training phase:

• Workshops on effective citizenship and human rights.

• A specialized training on the right to vote and its importance in decision making.

• Training sessions on debate skills and other skills related to expressing one’s opinion.

2) Visits phase:

Organizing visits to the municipal councils of Hizma and Az-Z’ayyim to be introduced to municipal working mechanisms and its role in serving the citizens, or a visit to one of the organizations participating in the project in order to have a real simulation of the voting process.

3) Developing a short film about the project

Implementing Organization: The Palestinian Charity for Youth Economic Empowerment CYEE

 

Goals:

- Encourage digital political participation: empowering marginalized groups, especially women, the youth and persons with disabilities to use AI and social media to enhance their effective participation in the elections, therefore, expanding the circle of political participation in Palestine.

- Reestablish electoral awareness: training participants on how to analyze electoral discourse in depth, and how to detect disinformation and misinformation using AI tools, with the aim of creating a generation of digital citizens capable of interacting with electoral information with critical awareness.

- Enable influential digital production: enhancing the capacities of the target groups to produce innovative and effective digital content, such as videos, infographics and podcasts, reflecting electoral issues and contributing to spreading the culture of democracy among the community members.

- Launching an integrated digital platform: to provide an interactive digital platform to be an educational destination and a place for dialogue, allowing participants to explore training tools, exchange ideas and interact creatively with electoral issues.

 

Activities:

- A comprehensive training program discussing the following topics:

The first day: AI and voters’ education (electoral awareness) with the aim of analyzing digital content and detecting disinformation using AI tools.

The second day: digital campaigns management, how to create and manage awareness campaigns over social media.

The third day: creating digital content using AI tools to create short videos, infographics and podcasts.

 

- A dialogue session: AI and digital awareness in the political and electoral scenes. The session aims to enable beneficiaries to practically apply what they learned during the trainings through group work and digital production.

 

 

- Launching the digital platform titled “I am a digital ambassador”

 

 

- Implementing 5 awareness workshops on voters’ education, digital content analysis, and detecting disinformation using AI tools.

 

 

- Production of 3 short videos.

 

 

- Create 5 infographic posts.

 

 

- Recording and production of two podcasts.

 

Implementing Organization: The Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Right Activation – PYALARA.

 

Goals:

Overarching goal: The project seeks to enhance and increase the Palestinian youth participation in the democratic process and that of the various groups of the society, especially women and persons with disabilities.

Specific goals:

 

- Creating a well-trained youth cadre capable of playing a positive and effective role within its communities.

- Raising the awareness of the society and motivating its active participation in the upcoming local elections while enhancing the democratic practice.

- Strengthening relationships between officials, decision-makers and members of the community in the target areas.

 

Activities:

1) Forming 4 youth committees in the target areas, each comprised of 6 young females and males aged 19-25.

2) Building the capacities of committee members on a number of issues including the following:

- Palestinian electoral system, rights of the youth according to international laws; namely the security council resolutions 2535 and 2419, AI, disinformation and misinformation, hatred speech, gender-sensitive media, means of addressing officials and decision makers on public issues.

3) Production of 4 videos using smart phones, on the importance of engaging in the electoral process, reasons behind citizens refraining from active participation in some areas. The youth will be trained and empowered while focusing on technological skills and AI applications.

4) Organizing 4 meetings with officials and decision makers specialized in electoral issues.

Implementing Organization:Teacher Creativity Center

 

Goals:

1) To build the capacities of 50 ninth grade teachers (females and males) on the concept of elections.

2) To enhance the understanding and skills of both teachers and students regarding the electoral process, which will increase students’ awareness on democratic practices and the importance of political participation.

3) To encourage public schools to conduct an electoral simulation for ninth graders in 10 schools.

 

Activities:

1) Training 50 ninth grade social education teachers (females and males) and building their capacities regarding elections, followed by forming an electoral committee, conduct electoral campaigning and polling, in addition to a TOT curriculum for two-days training in each area.

2) Conduct an electoral simulation for ninth graders in 10 schools at least, under the teachers’ supervision.

Implementing Organization: Journalists without Borders

 

Goals:

1- Enhance electoral awareness and correcting wrong concepts: enhance the understanding of media and public relations students concerning the importance of elections and political participation through raising awareness on the electoral mechanisms, the impact of active participation in enhancing the political and social realities, as well as correcting negative perceptions and wrong concepts in relation to elections.

2- Building youth leaders and motivating active participation: Training and qualifying youth leaders at universities and local communities while providing opportunities for students to apply their leadership skills in electoral awareness and voters’ education activities.

3- Enhance social responsibility: Building the spirit of social responsibility among students through field activities and practicum visits, such as visiting the CEC to highlight the importance of political participation and social influence.

4- Increase the registration rate for elections: Increase the number of eligible voters registered in the Governorate of Hebron, with focus on the youth, through tailored electoral awareness activities to inform them on the importance of registration and active participation in the election as one of the democratic rights.

5- Enhance thinking skills in relation to participation in the elections, using modern technologies: Enabling the youth to utilize critical and creative thinking in electoral participation by capitalizing on modern technologies such as social media and AI tools. This will help the youth to strengthen their active role in the electoral process and to use these tools to raise awareness and advance their engagement with their communities.

 

Activities:

Training and capacity building: 20 students (females and males) will be selected from media, public relations and graphics departments at Palestine Polytechnic University and Hebron University.

Practical activities: Dividing the participants into 4 groups, each working on a specific activity that will be decided through a draw.

- Electoral awareness and voters’ education activity at the university: Organizing an activity on campus to encourage the students to register and participate in the elections, in addition to disseminating awareness materials, illustrating the importance of elections, using student platforms and AI to enhance awareness such as the awareness convoy at the university or the elections shack (simulation).

- Field activity for electoral awareness: Conducting an awareness activity, disseminating flyers, and calling for registration in the city of Hebron which is rated among the lowest registration rates, in coordination with the municipality, to spread awareness on the mechanisms of registration and participating in the elections.

- Electoral creativity competition for students: Organizing a student competition based on submitting creative ideas for enhancing electoral awareness such as, designing posters, producing short videos, conducting interactive initiatives on social media, where the best ideas will be granted a certificate and will be published on social media and on the news through media outlets.

- A radio spot on electoral participation in Hebron: implementing a radio spot in partnership with one of the radio stations to be aired live (audio-visual) through its digital platforms, discussing the participation of the youth in elections in the Governorate of Hebron. The radio spot will be implemented by the group, who will have a key role in preparation, coordination, reporting and publishing, and will be published on digital platforms commonly used in the governorate.

Implementing Organization:Student Forum Institute

 

Goals:

Overarching goal: To establish a youth unit for supporting the forum, specialized in elections (observing elections, conducting electoral campaigns, forming electoral lists, providing advice and counseling to youth with the desire to participate in the elections).

Sub-goals:

• To build the capacities of the youth in forming and managing electoral lists.

• To build the capacities of the youth in the area of employing AI and social media in designing and implementing electoral campaigns.

• To contribute to raising the youth’s awareness on the importance of participating in general and local elections.

• To enable the youth unit to provide consultations and advice to the youth in the area of elections.

 

Activities:

1. Forming the youth unit by selecting 20 young females and males from 10 locations in the Governorates of Bethlehem and Hebron, qualifying them and empowering them in the area of electoral processes, through a 5-days training course.

2. Conducting 10 awareness workshops with citizens on the importance of participating in the elections and the tasks of the youth unit. Two people will be conducting the workshop in their areas about local elections and the importance of participation. Furthermore, they will announce during the workshop their readiness to provide advice and consultation to any individual about elections from registration through candidacy all the way to management of electoral campaigns.

3. Developing reports and hosting a photographer (female) on one of the local news stations on the importance of the participation of the youth in the electoral process and to introduce the youth unit and its role.

4. Conducting 5 awareness workshops with Palestinian universities on the importance of participating in the elections and the tasks of the youth unit.

5. Two dialogue sessions with decision makers on the local elections law and its amendments in order to guarantee wider participation from the youth.

 

Implementing Organization:Nrsan Cultural Center

 

Goals:

Raising political awareness: the project contributes to raising women and youth awareness on the importance of participating in local elections and their role in decision-making.

Enhancing fair representation: The project seeks to achieve wider participation of the target groups in the local councils, contributing to conveying their needs and aspirations to the decision makers.

Women empowerment: The project helps face social and cultural obstacles preventing women participation in the elections as a voter and a candidate.

Motivating the youth: The project focuses on engaging the youth in the electoral process, enhancing their role in community development and taking decisions.

Enhancing the quality of local services: Through increasing women and youth participation, it is possible to influence local policies to be more responsive to their needs.

 

Activities:

1) Training and building the capacities of 30 participants (females and males) from women and youth in the city of Yatta, its rural and Bedouin areas. The training is comprised of 30 hours in different topics such as leadership, developing and planning electoral campaigns, communications, electoral debate, developing political agenda/program, and public speaking skills.

2) Discussion sessions: implementing 10 workshops/community discussion sessions on the importance of women and youth participation in local elections.

3) Door to door campaign: a field campaign from Bethlehem including visits to rural and Bedouin areas (10 locations) to converse with women and populations on the importance of women participation in the elections, while distributing awareness materials on elections and women right to political participation.

4) Electoral debate sessions: Three electoral debate sessions will be organized among participants from the course attended by a group of local community representatives. Each session will be conducted in a different area in Yatta, rural, Bedouin or Masafer.

5) Four radio sports with the participation of women, the youth, decision makers, and influencers on the importance of women and youth participation in local elections, broadcasted on Sawt Al-Bab Radio from Ad-Dahiriya or Karama Radio in Yatta.

6) Youth and women gatherings: two meetings bringing together decision makers with youth and women to strengthen communication, a meeting with the CEC and another with the Minister Women Affairs and the Minister of Culture among others.

 

Implementing Organization: Witness Center for Citizens’ Rights and Social Development – SHAHID.

 

Goals:

- To enhance the capacities of journalists regarding the verification of information, political statements and electoral promises.

- To contribute to mitigating the impact of disinformation on the voters’ decisions.

- Raising awareness of the youth and the general public on the impact of rumors on elections and democracy.

 

Activities:

1. Two training days targeting twenty journalists (females and males) on verification of information: with a focus on verifying electoral promises, political statements and AI, using AI tools for monitoring and verifying information.

2. A symposium on the International Day for the Freedom of Press titled “Freedom of Expression in the Era of Disinformation: Verifying information and enhancing democracy”. Themes of the symposium:

- The importance of verifying political statements and electoral promises to enhance transparency and the electoral process.

- Challenges facing journalists and information verifiers in light of political and technological constraints.

3. Three interactive meetings with university students on verifying electoral promises and political statements.

4. Production of two reports on electoral promises of Palestinian municipalities over the last period.

Implementing Organization:Defense the Children International - Palestine

 

Goals:

- To train on the principles of governance, accountability and democratic participation.

- To empower children to impose their agenda and demands onto the decision makers in the local councils and local authorities within their environments.

- To enhance their capacities to influence their communities and raise their voices to the decision makers concerning issues affecting their rights and future.

- To develop critical thinking, leadership and communication skills to enhance their participation in public life.

 

Activities:

1. Implementing 87 training workshops for the protection teams children in 11 governorates, targeting 29 different teams from various areas. Each team will receive 3 workshops to enhance their understanding of democratic practices and decision making.

2. Production of children-friendly awareness materials (including 3 videos) led by children, on the importance of children’s role in democratic life.

4. Implementing 3 sessions with local authorities on the democratic process and elections by coordinating with the CEC and the local authorities after the training.