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About Us
In 2019, we launched a community initiative in Aida refugee camp to respond to the urgent need of its young people, who were being subjected to violent oppression at the hands of the military occupation. We aimed to provide youth, and young women in particular, with access to education; to offer psychological support and to empower them to participate in decision-making and take on effective roles within the wider network of refugee camps. At the same time, we sought to create a safe space for young women to express themselves and become agents of change. The initiative evolved steadily and in 2021, we began working with youth and women’s groups inside the camp and implementing a number of cultural activities. It became a youth-led project, setting out to break down social barriers and limitations, forming a community in which both sexes aspired together to realise their dreams. Today, we at Al-Manar Organization for Culture and Creativity are working on several programs that support women and youth, with the aim of providing opportunities for community participation. Al-Manar Society For Culture & Creativity
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male and female volunteers
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people supported
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local and international partnerships
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female refugees supported
Master the Art of Communication
Our Vision and Our mission
Leading with Vision and Purpose
Contributing to the establishment of a democratic Palestinian society based on justice, equality, and human rights, ensuring the inclusive and active participation of all groups.
let the message reach all over the word.
Al-Manar Society is an independent Palestinian organization that seeks to empower youth, women and children and enhance their participation in the public life of society, through a range of community activities and interventions that meet the needs of target groups and contribute to the protection of their rights.
our Target Group
Youth
Women
Children
Embrace Change & Thrive
Our programs empower participants to navigate change and emerge stronger than ever.
Youth Empowerment
Women’s Rights and Gender Justice
Child Development and Protection
The “Youth Can Do Change: Safe Space for Women” project is implemented by the Al Manar Society for Culture and Creativity in Palestine as part of the “Enhancing the Role of Women’s Civil Society Organizations in Implementing the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda” program in Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine. This program is funded by the Support Fund for Feminist Organizations of the French Development Agency (AFD) and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. In Palestine, it is carried out in partnership between the Euro-Mediterranean Feminist Initiative (EFI) and the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD).
The project aims to empower Palestinian women and youth by strengthening their role in peacebuilding processes and promoting a culture of gender equality. This is achieved through activities focusing on education, psychosocial support, awareness-raising, and community advocacy. The project has targeted 240 young men and women in the Bethlehem area.
AL Manar Language school
Al Manar Society and Windflower Educational Network are united by a shared vision of Palestinian liberation through education
80 years of occupation and siege have left Palestine’s education systems in crisis, and we believe that emergent grassroots organisations will continue to be the key to sustaining Palestine’s rich intellectual traditions as the military assault continues.
Working alongside Al Manar Society for Culture and Creativity, we provide online English Language training, professional skills development and academic mentoring to students from Gaza, West Bank and the diaspora.
Our goals are to:
strengthen and build capacity in Palestinian grassroots educational initiatives
amplify the voices of marginalised Palestinian communities
build resilient and extensive international networks with Palestinian organisations at the centre
facilitate material development through access to quality education.
theorise and implement decolonial models of online language education, which trouble and contest contemporary practices.
Many of our learners are university students and professionals for whom English competence is a prerequisite for continuing education or career progression. For others, fluency means narrative control and the power of self-definition and advocacy on the global stage. There are in addition many for whom our classes are a safe space and retreat.
Creative Solutions leads for success
Setting specific goals drives innovation and growth
General Goal:
Contribute to building a democratic Palestinian society based on the principles of justice, equality and human rights, ensuring the active and inclusive participation of all groups in public life to achieve sustainable development and social cohesion.
specific Goals
Strategic Objectives:
Empowering Palestinian Youth:
● Raising awareness about political, cultural, and social rights.
● Building skills in leadership, advocacy, and community dialogue.
● Encouraging youth participation in economic, cultural, and political life.
Strengthening Women’s Rights and Participation:
● Raising awareness about political, cultural, and social rights.
● Enhancing women’s economic empowerment and access to resources.
● Supporting women’s participation in leadership roles and decision-making.
Improving Children’s Development and Well-being:
● Ensuring access to quality education and safe learning environments.
● Providing mental health support and ensuring a healthy growth environment.
● Encouraging children’s civic participation and self-expression.
Strengthening Al-Manar’s Institutional Capacity:
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● Enhancing administrative and financial management.
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● Developing clear policies and procedures.
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● Training staff to efficiently implement programs.
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cofounder of al-manar society
Manar may need to revise the figures in the last paragraph I am Manar Qaraqe, a 23-year-old Palestinian woman from Aida Camp. I hold a bachelor's degree in Literature with a minor in Journalism and Media and a master's degree in International Development Cooperation. Since my childhood, I have had an interest in community work and women’s capacity to bring about societal change. I began my work at Aida camp after acting on stage and, while in my second year of university, I launched a cultural community initiative there. This involved a variety of events and projects including giving lectures which highlighted the needs of refugee youth. It served as a vital outlet for the girls and boys of the camp. The initiative later developed as I worked with youth groups within the camp on a range of cultural events and community projects, eventually evolving into a cultural community organization. I became the first young woman in the camp in the first youth group to work within this framework. Together with the youth we have succeeded in breaking down the barriers that prevent mixed-gender collaboration. We have collectively succeeded in building an organization where members of both genders work and think together to change their lives and reality and achieve their dreams as young refugees. Though we are all under 25 years old, through the Al-Manar Society for Culture and Creativity and the youth activities that it has implemented, we have been able to bring about profound personal change in our young men and women, transforming their vision of life. Through our activities, we have become more in love with life, and through our participation in these activities, especially those of a literary and creative nature, we have been able to express ourselves. I have, over the years worked with school and university students in 12 schools and 3 universities; supported 300 women in developing their skills and participating in decision-making and established a number of local and international partnerships. Furthermore, with the support of my colleagues, I have gathered more than 100 volunteers in one year and developed the initiative into a community-cultural institution. We have sought to demonstrate that women are capable of bringing about change and affirm our belief in the transformative potential of youth work, and we have proven that, even inside the camps, we can live and achieve our dreams as young refugees.
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Donation
Through Al-Manar society for Culture and Creativity, we seek to build a safe, interdependent society based on the values and principles of social justice, pluralism, and the empowerment of women, youth, and refugee children, with your help and support.
Your donations will directly fund empowerment projects, helping to build a safer and more prosperous society. Your generosity is deeply appreciated and vital to our ongoing efforts to make a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve.
Together we can make a difference.
We are committed to supporting Palestinians in need. We thank you in advance for giving and we hope that together we can bring about a more just society.
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