In June 2009 HeartRebels became involved with the Shurouq Youth House in Palestine to support the youth’s own initiation to develop a platform from where they can become their own agents of change. The youth from the Peace and Freedom Youth Forum (PFF) is a group of Palestinian youth who have decided to create their own independent youth forum that aims to form an influential grassroots youth movement. PFF is not a political faction or a branch of one, and is self-founded and not dependent on any local or foreign body or institution.
For three years ago the youth from the PFF began to build Shurouq Youth House which should become a cultural center dedicated to the youth, and now this month June 2009 they can be proud of announcing its grand opening. The meaning of Shurouq is sunshine and it will provide the space and tools youth need to develop and implement their ideas, projects, and enhance their talents and skills, thus strengthening them in transpiring form individuals to contributors towards their society. The chosen property is located in BirZeit and the concept forwarded is that voluntary work not only is constructive, but also creative and fun – a joint contribution to the society as well as one-self. It shall be open to everyone and allow youth to express themselves and discover their own talents, which can strengthen their capacity in becoming their own agents of change. Shurouq’s activities will focus on the preservation of cultural heritage, both in its tangible and intangible forms and on the promotion of intercultural dialogue as one of the surest guarantees of development, democracy and peace.
The need for the project can be recognized by the great support it has received from both local and foreign actors, and at the inauguration that was held in front of the building this June about 200 people attended. This included residents from BirZeit, PFF activists, the Minister of National Economy Mr. Bassem Khoury, the German Representative to Palestine Mr. Gerhard Schlaudraff, and a delegation of the Danish Youth Council lead by Kasper Palm. The evening was opened with a short speech by Mr. Bassem Khoury, Erich Hetter (Artistic Director of Sounding Jerusalem Festival of Chamber Music), where after nine musicians from France, Germany, Austria and Palestine presented the main feature of the night under the name ‘Melange Oriental’, which is a musical work representing the Four Quarters of the old city of Jerusalem - A mélange of classic and contemporary music played on the Piano, Cello, Contra Bass, various wind instruments, accordion and with some recordings from the sounds of the old city.
The youth involved at the Shurouq Youth House are apart from being dedicated to establish and develop the Youth House, additionally active in finding ways of how to raise money for the project themselves. Amongst others the fundraising initiative ‘send a message’. This is a creative and progressive idea that not only underpins the absurdity of a political conflict and its destructiveness, but furthermore states the need for a new generations’ involvement in the development of a better future. The fundraising project offers people to write a message on the wall that separates Palestine and Israel. You send a message to the youth involved at the Shurouq Youth House and they will write it with graffiti on the wall for the cost of 30€, and these money will go directly to the capacity building of the Youth House. See more at: www.sendamessage.nl/ This initiative is recognized by the local authorities, and is not depict as being illegal activities.
Support the project - Please contact Maja Hedin or come to the TrailerPark Festival 09 and write your message. Press links below to get more insight to the Shurouq Youth House and the youth’s activities: