The Mossawa Center's youth program has engaged over 2,000 participants over the years in workshops, conferences, community initiatives, and cultural events.
The Mossawa Center’s Youth Empowerment Program is a comprehensive initiative designed to equip Palestinian Arab youth in Israel with the knowledge, skills, and platforms needed to engage in advocacy, civic participation, and leadership. Recognizing that young people are the future architects of their communities, the program focuses on legal education, community engagement, leadership development, and cultural preservation. Through structured workshops, advocacy initiatives, and cultural programs, the Mossawa Center ensures that Palestinian Arab youth are empowered to challenge systemic discrimination, assert their rights, and actively contribute to shaping their future
The Summer Youth Workshops are a highlight of the Youth Empowerment Program, integrating legal education with cultural and heritage preservation. These workshops provide an immersive experience, blending advocacy training with hands-on activities that connect youth to their Palestinian identity and history.
A key component of the summer program is the oral history project, where youth participants conduct interviews with community elders about life before and after the Nakba. This initiative helps young people develop a deeper understanding of Palestinian history while fostering intergenerational dialogue and cultural continuity.
Another major focus is the use of creative expression as an advocacy tool. Workshops include creative writing and storytelling to highlight Palestinian narratives, film screenings and discussions on Palestinian identity and resilience, and public speaking and media training to help youth articulate their experiences and advocate for change. These activities encourage young people to see art, literature, and digital media as powerful tools for activism, allowing them to amplify their voices and raise awareness about their struggles.
Participants also receive training in community organizing and digital advocacy, learning how to build effective campaigns that raise awareness about Palestinian Arab rights and discrimination, use social media platforms strategically to mobilize support for social justice causes, and develop grassroots initiatives to address local challenges, such as youth participation in local governance.
By the end of the summer program, participants create and present their own advocacy projects, many of which evolve into ongoing initiatives within their communities.
A significant milestone in the Youth Empowerment Program was the national “From Youth to Youth” Conference, which brought together young activists, students, and community leaders to discuss political participation and representation in local councils, strategies for addressing discrimination through legal and civic engagement, and the impact of war and repression on Palestinian Arab youth. Youth-driven solutions for community-building and social change were a key focal point of the conferences workshops.
This conference served as a launching pad for new advocacy initiatives, with many participants later taking part in municipal elections, grassroots campaigns, and human rights organizations.
A cornerstone of the Youth Empowerment Program is the Legal and Human Rights Training Workshops. These workshops provide high school students with a deep understanding of their legal rights, democratic participation, and social justice issues. The program was implemented in Nazareth, Haifa, the Triangle Area, and Jisr al-Zarqa, reaching a diverse group of students eager to learn about their rights and responsibilities.
Each session covers a range of crucial legal topics, including freedom of expression and civil rights, the right to education, workers' rights and economic discrimination, civic engagement and political Participation, land and housing rights, and cultural and linguistic rights.
The workshops play a pivotal role in fostering critical thinking skills and equipping students with advocacy tools. Given the political climate following the 2023 war on Gaza, the program was adapted to address the realities of war and political repression, ensuring that students were informed about their legal protections and how to navigate discriminatory policies.
Beyond formal training, the Mossawa Center facilitates monthly youth meetings and events, engaging over 500 youth members across northern and central Israel. These gatherings serve as an important platform for youth to discuss social and political issues, explore their cultural identity, and develop leadership skills.
Key components of these meetings include political and legal discussions on discrimination, social justice, and rights advocacy; workshops on civic engagement that promotes volunteerism and community-driven initiatives; and cultural and educational programs, such as film screenings and heritage preservation events.
These meetings led to the formation of a strong, well-connected youth network, enabling young activists to initiate their own advocacy projects and take leadership roles in their communities.