Project Participants
Project Story
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Palestinian youth face overlapping challenges that affect their well-being and future opportunities. Economic instability, political uncertainty, and limited access to resources place constant pressure on young people as they navigate education, careers, and personal development.
At the same time, many youth lack accessible mental health support, professional guidance, and opportunities to build practical skills. In a rapidly changing digital world, they must also learn to navigate misinformation, emerging technologies, and online spaces responsibly. Without strong support systems, many young people struggle to reach their full potential.
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YOUthRIVING is a holistic youth empowerment program designed to help Palestinian youth build resilience, skills, and confidence for the future.
The project combines AI-powered tools with real human support. Through the YOUthRIVING platform, youth can access confidential AI-assisted mental health support available anytime, alongside one-on-one guidance from professionals such as psychologists, career advisors, and health coaches.
The initiative also creates Women’s Empowerment Circles, safe spaces where young women connect with mentors, build leadership skills, and learn about financial literacy, career pathways, and advocacy.
To prepare youth for the digital age, YOUthRIVING offers a Media and AI Literacy Program that teaches participants how to recognize misinformation, understand algorithmic bias, verify sources, and use AI tools responsibly.
In addition, the project provides workshops, webinars, English language courses, and volunteer opportunities that help youth develop career skills, explore entrepreneurship, and engage in community leadership.
A pay-it-forward model ensures long-term impact. Participants who complete the program become YOUthRIVING Fellows, mentoring new participants, leading workshops, and sharing their knowledge with other youth in their communities.
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Young people are one of the greatest sources of strength and possibility within Palestinian communities. When they have the right tools, support, and opportunities, they can transform challenges into leadership and innovation.
YOUthRIVING goes beyond short-term support by building a sustainable network of empowered youth who support and mentor one another. By combining technology, professional guidance, and peer leadership, the project creates a ripple effect that strengthens both individuals and communities.
The goal is not only to support youth today, but to cultivate a generation of confident, resilient, and critically minded leaders who will shape a stronger future for Palestine.
Project Updates
April 18th Update
The team has focused on implementing awareness workshops under the Media Compass initiative, including both in-person and online sessions targeting Palestinian youth.
These workshops focused on media literacy, critical thinking, and analyzing misinformation.
In addition, we have been working on developing the YOUthRIVING digital platform.
April 19th Update
The team organized a specialized workshop on integrating Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) in science education, targeting school teachers from the Jerusalem suburbs. The workshop focused on practical methods for using these technologies to enhance classroom engagement and understanding. Participants showed strong engagement and contributed to meaningful discussions and knowledge exchange.
Empowering AQB University Students with AI and 21st-Century Skills: A YouthThriving Workshop
As part of the Youthriving initiative, we were honored to invite Yazid AlBadarin and Dr. Jana Lazanoska as guest speakers in an interactive workshop designed for university students, focusing on 21st-century skills, particularly the fundamentals of Artificial Intelligence. This session was part of the Technology and Human Rights course within the (Open Society University Network), where key areas of technology and their growing impact on human activities and responsibilities in today’s digital era were discussed. The workshop aimed to simplify core AI concepts, promote responsible and ethical use of technology, and strengthen students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, and digital engagement skills. It also included interactive discussions and real-world examples to help students better understand both the opportunities and challenges associated with AI.
The team delivered an interactive workshop on video game design for 7th and 8th grade students at Arab Institute School.
The workshop introduced students to the basics of game design, including idea development, storytelling, and gameplay mechanics. It also included hands-on activities where students created simple prototypes, showing strong engagement and creativity.
Creative Thinking for Young Minds – YouthThriving Workshop
As part of the YouthThriving initiative’s efforts to foster 21st-century skills, we had the pleasure of delivering an interactive workshop on creative thinking for students at Kingdom of Values School, targeting elementary grades (1st to 9th).
The workshop focused on developing students’ creative thinking skills through interactive activities and educational games that stimulate imagination, encourage idea generation, and promote innovative problem-solving. It also aimed to build students’ confidence, support self-expression, and encourage teamwork.
The session was filled with energy and engagement, as students showed great enthusiasm and active participation, highlighting the importance of integrating such activities into education to nurture a generation capable of thinking creatively and differently.
April 24th Update
We successfully designed and delivered a Psychological Awareness Workshop targeting young participants, with a focus on emotional well-being and practical life skills. The workshop included two main components:
Emotional venting and safe expression, where participants engaged in guided activities to express their feelings, reduce stress, and build a sense of psychological safety.
Crisis management and problem-solving skills, where participants were introduced to structured approaches for handling challenges, making decisions, and responding to real-life situations.
The sessions were highly interactive, incorporating group discussions, role-playing, and scenario-based activities. Participants showed strong engagement and were able to share personal experiences, propose solutions, and support each other in a collaborative environment.
In parallel, the team has been working on developing the platform concept, refining the structure of the Youthriving website, including its core pillars: mental and physical well-being, skill development, and community engagement. We have also started outlining content for future workshops and identifying potential collaborators and specialists to support upcoming activities.
Overall, this phase reflects a strong step toward building both the community aspect and the practical impact of the project, with plans to continue delivering similar workshops and expanding outreach in the coming period.
April 24th Update
As part of expanding the outreach of the Youthriving project, our team has established official social media platforms, including an Instagram page and a Facebook page.
These platforms aim to increase engagement with youth, share our vision and ongoing work, and create a digital space that reflects the project’s mission of connection, growth, and community support.
We have started publishing content to introduce the project, communicate its core pillars, and build an online presence that resonates with young people. Attached is an example of one of our recent posts.
Moving forward, we aim to maintain consistent content, grow our audience, and utilize these platforms to reach more youth and connect them with opportunities and resources.
YOUthRIVING introductory Reel
139
Secondary Impact
(Level 2)
290
Third Impact
(Level 3)
Impact Metrics (Ripple Effect)
169
Direct Beneficiaries
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Palestinian Students Scholarship Fund -
Empowering students to create lasting positive change across Palestine.
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2026 Competition
Fostering a systematic culture of good deeds across Palestinian universities, empowering student leaders to create measurable community impact through initiatives that inspire exponential ripple effects of kindness and mutual support.
Contact
312-200-2723
Winner Announcement: To be Announced