The US government continues to bring together young Americans and Palestinians as part of a program to create and strengthen economic and leadership opportunities for youth in the West Bank. During a visit facilitated by the USAID-Ruwwad Youth Empowerment Program, a student delegation from the American University in Washington D.C. traveled to the city of Ramallah on May 19 to meet with young Palestinians for a day of community service. The Ruwwad project is managed by the Massachusetts-based nonprofit Education Development Center, Inc.  The 17 American students, who are enrolled in a Middle Eastern Studies program focused on Arabic language, history and culture, visited with Ruwwad youth leaders, volunteers from the Ehna Falasteen (We are Palestine) network, National Youth Corps, and other Palestinian youth advocates. During the visit, the university students and Palestinian youth volunteers traveled together to the Abu-Rayyah Rehabilitation Center in Ramallah City for a one-day service project where they volunteered to clean and paint the facility and plant new trees.

As part of the day, the delegation enjoyed a traditional Palestinian meal with the volunteers and learned first-hand about Palestinian culture. “The visit helped us to understand and connect with Palestinian youth in a different light than what we see in the American media,” said visiting student Tracy Pierce. “Palestinian youth are full of hope.” At the end of the day, the visiting delegation went to al Bireh Youth Resource and Development Center, one of a network of youth centers across the West Bank being programmed by EDC and the Ruwwad youth program

By Staff