From Volunteering to an International Internship: My Journey of Growth and Empowerment

My journey began as a university student passionate about creating positive change in my community. I volunteered at the Witness Center, engaging in activities aimed at empowering Palestinian society, particularly focusing on youth and women in Nablus and its surrounding areas.

After graduation, I started my professional career at a consultation company, but my passion for community initiatives brought me back to the Witness Center in 2022. I served as the Project Manager for the Women Lead Initiative, a project co-funded by Oxfam and the European Union. This role significantly enhanced my skills in project management, coordination, and Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning (MEAL), solidifying my position as an active youth leader in Palestinian society.

During my time at the Witness Center, I had the honor of representing the organization internationally. I participated in a regional workshop on gender-based violence under the Naseej Project, targeting Palestine, Iraq, and Yemen. The workshop was organized by Oxfam in Erbil, Iraq. Additionally, I represented the center in the Italian city of Riace, Calabria, as part of the “Inspire, Create, and Empower” project under the Erasmus+ program, which included participants from five countries: Palestine, Sweden, Italy, Finland, and Georgia.

After the Women Lead Initiative concluded, I continued working in similar fields. My efforts as a young activist were recognized when I was selected from 75 applicants as one of the final 25 participants in the Young Civil Society Leadership Program by the Anna Lindh Foundation. Through this program, I successfully implemented my initiative, “Be Accurate: AI and Fact-checking,” with the support of the Witness Center and the Kashif Platform.

Inspired by this achievement, I applied for the prestigious Young Professionals Programme at the Anna Lindh Foundation Secretariat. Today, I am proud to serve as an intern at this inter-governmental organization, a role that allows me to further my commitment to fostering youth empowerment and societal transformation.

This accomplishment is a testament to the support and opportunities provided by the Witness Center and the invaluable experiences that have shaped my path. From a passionate volunteer to an international intern, my journey reflects resilience, growth, and an unwavering commitment to creating meaningful change.