About Sharek Youth Forum

Sharek Youth Forum, a leading Palestinian organization run by youth and for youth, works to enhance Palestinian society through youth empowerment.

Sharek Youth Forum operates throughout Palestine with the primary goal of creating space for youth to engage themselves as active participants in all sectors of civil society and to participate in the development of local communities.  In this way Sharek identifies and serves the key needs and priorities of Palestinian youth.

To reach this goal Sharek has established three core programs. The first one, "A Step Forward", aims to empower youth through facilitating their entry into the labor market. "Bridges", Sharek's second program, focuses on establishing services in remote areas of the West Bank and Gaza Strip for child development. Lastly, there is "Partners", a program devoted to the capacity building of youth organizations and to the support of youth initiatives.

Moreover, in response to the growing difficulties faced by Palestinian youth, Sharek has recently established an "Advocacy Unit" with the purpose of supporting and advocating the plight of Palestinian youth both within Palestinian Society and internationally. Under the umbrella of these programs, Sharek implements a wide range of activities from youth workshops and trainings to projects in the field working with children and other vulnerable groups in need of protection. Furthermore, events, international days and on-going campaigns and initiatives are carried out by Sharek staff and volunteers to advance and build the capacity of the youth sector in Palestine. Sharek is operating in over 20 centers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and is cooperating in the field with municipalities, village councils, private sector companies, community-based organizations, and youth, women and child organizations for the implementation of its different youth development programs.

Sharek’s Mission

To contribute to the development of youth through designing and implementing creative youth initiatives, programs and projects and supporting youth by giving them the opportunity to determine their needs and have their voices heard.

Sharek’s Approach

Hey You-th: for you and for your society be creative,
independent, involved, active and aware!!!!!!!

Sharek Youth Forum believes that…

….youth are naturally creative, and as they represent the future it is important to provide them with opportunities to channel this creativity towards developing ideas, experimenting, learning and leading. Sharek encourages youth to challenge the status quo and break the boundaries of what they have been told must be. 
 
….independence is the key to being critical. To break the political boundaries imposed upon youth, Sharek encourages the development of critical thinking skills among youth and alternative approaches to tackling the problems they face, by working together, not apart.
 
….Palestinian society is young, and the problems faced by youth are Palestinian problems. Sharek aims to show that it is possible for communities to identify these problems and confront them. Success depends on our strength in the community and our ability to make a difference. Sharek therefore aims to lead our community in tackling the real problems we all face.
 
….in actions more than in words. Young people are interested in Sharek because it is an active organisation, which leads by example and works hard at achieving its goals. Sharek aims to criticise but also to advocate for the interests of youth, both in our communities and in Palestinian society as a whole.
 
…to bring changes, we must influence others. Sharek encourages young people to become aware of the social problems surrounding them and think of ways to resolve them. Sharek tries to build awareness among youth of the issues facing them in their own communities, both on the national and international levels.
 
   

Sharek’s Structure

Working Together not Apart

Overview
Sharek operates and implements its activities in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Sharek's head office is located in Ramallah, where both the general management and financial management are based, as well as core departments such as PR and Programs monitoring and evaluation. From this management center the core programs are directed by coordinators and managers. Local area coordinators are present in a number of Sharek's field offices, covering the northern and southern West Bank. Due to the critical social, economical and political reality of Gaza Strip, the regional office of Gaza works in an independent manner managing its daily affairs as well as the activities of local offices. Yet, in order to maintain consistency in Sharek's actions and project, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip branches cooperate closely and coordinate their activities on a daily basis. 

Sharek's Governance
Sharek is a dynamic forum made up of youth whose work is supervised and directed by two organs: the General Assembly and the Executive Committee. The general assembly is responsible for identifying Palestinian youth needs in order to provide systematic guidance for Sharek’s strategic development as a youth organization as well as creating an effective link between youth needs and Sharek's programs. Furthermore, the executive committee, whose members are elected by the general assembly, represents the higher authority of Sharek Youth Forum as it is in charge of approving the day-to-day Sharek's decisions and actions. The committee is in direct contact with the in-the-field work of the organization through its continuous cooperation with the executive director. This structure, that involves the joint efforts of different actors, cements the democratic nature of Sharek Youth Forum without jeopardizing the freedom and independence of project managers, field coordinators and volunteers in implementing a wide range of projects and activities.

The Local Partners
Sharek has established numerous partnerships in the field. It has strengthened its presence on the ground and is now working in more than 20 centers, many of which are run in cooperation with municipalities and village councils. Furthermore, through close cooperation with community-based organizations and NGOs, Sharek is active in various other areas as well. It is Sharek's strength that is has been able to involve the private sector directly in certain core programs as well, mostly on issues related to the labor market and unemployment among youth. Sharek's local partnerships cover remote, rural and marginalized locations, refugee camps, villages and cities. More detailed information on partners for the implementation of activities can be found in the programs section.

Annual Audits and Narrative Reports

Sharek's accounts are audited on a yearly basis. Also, every year Sharek produces an annual narrative report as a summary of its activities and projects implemented during the year. The Biennial report for the year 2006 and 2007 is available here .

Sharek’s History

Sharek Youth Forum was launched as an initiative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) under the Program of Assistance to the Palestinian People (UNDP/PAPP) in 1996. It was supported by the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC) as well as the Japanese Government and the UNDP. Since its inception as an independent non-governmental organisation, Sharek aimed to establish itself as a Palestinian organization outside the framework of UNDP. In mid-2004 this process was completed although the UNDP sill plays an advisory role for Sharek.