The Road to 2030 Raised the Alarm Towards Palestinian Youth Reality
Islamic Relief Palestine organized “The Road to 2030” event on Friday, 12th of August 2016, with hundreds of Young people and children participating. Partner organizations and families were also happy to partake in Youth Day activities.
The participants ran 3.5 km distance on Gaza corniche after passing by four main points each of which carried a vivid indication about the reality of Palestinian Youth starting from 2016, passing by 2020, moving to 2025 and reaching to 2030.
The event involved a number of activities including practicing sports and painting which expressed youth’s ambitions and dreams.
Country Director of Islamic Relief, Mr. Muneeb Abu Ghazaleh, said: “The message that Islamic Relief would like to convey on Youth Day is to draw the world’s attention to the real situation which the Palestinian Young people go through and their increasingly growing problems. General economic conditions are very tough, job opportunities are very rare, and poverty and unemployment rates are increasing steadily.”
Mr. Abu Ghazaleh added: “young people constitutes 30% of the Palestinian community; they are undoubtedly the pillar of any development project. Therefore, with its partners and through its development projects, IRPAL work very hard in order to improve their reality and secure a better future.”
He continued: “Working on development projects, we should not overlook the valuable role of young people in every effort to achieve a sustainable development. It becomes vital to invest in our youth’s capabilities, enthusiasm, and creativity. It is also important to find solutions for their needs, obstacles, and challenges.”
He resumed: “challenges and drawbacks which face our youth portend an approaching veritable disaster. All efforts should be collectively exerted towards facing all challenges including insufficient experience and skills, rare job opportunities, and high unemployment rates. When doing so, they will be able to build a better and brighter future.”
“It becomes very significant to work jointly and in permanent partnership with our local and international partners in order to reduce such phenomenon. Moreover, it is important to focus on strategic programmes relevant to development and sustainable development.”
He continued “we are afraid by 2030, with the current living and economic conditions and limited opportunities, our youth become incapable of pursuing the light of hope for their future and for the future of the coming generations.”
He pointed to the UN report released in 2012 which raised the alarm about the current conditions in Gaza which will be “inappropriate for living by 2020” unless urgent precautions are adopted to improve sanitation, water, electricity, health and education services status.
Participants in this event carried banners showing a number of questions about their reality and sustainable development goals in comparison with their real situation.
Eventually, participants called for making their issues a priority in order to allow them enjoy their rights to education, health, work, community participation, economy, public life, and investment and empowerment. They also call for supporting them in order to realize their dreams and future aspirations.
