Dr. Samah Hamad Participates in the Opening of a Consultative Workshop
Ramallah – Dr. Samah Hamad, Minister of Social Development and Minister of State for Relief Affairs, participated alongside H.E. Annick Van Calster, Consul General of Belgium, in the opening of a youth consultative workshop held under the Youth Protection and Civic Engagement (SO2) Project, implemented by the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel). The workshop brought together approximately 30 young women and men from across the West Bank, including Jerusalem.
Representing Enabel at the workshop were Dr. Rassem Swan, National Strategic Advisor, and Mr. Hani Al-Deek, Project Manager of the Youth Protection and Civic Engagement Programme. The Ministry of Social Development was represented by a delegation from the Department of Community Development and Volunteering.
The workshop aimed to provide young people with a platform to express their needs, priorities, and aspirations, and to discuss ways to strengthen their civic and community participation, thereby contributing to the development of youth-focused programmes and interventions and reinforcing their role as active partners in development and decision-making.
Dr. Hamad emphasized the importance of engaging directly with young people and listening to their views and aspirations, stressing that involving them in dialogue and public policymaking is a cornerstone of building a democratic society capable of responding to the needs of its citizens. She noted that empowering young people to have their voices heard in decision-making processes strengthens their role as active partners in development and positive change.
The Minister also addressed the difficult humanitarian situation facing the Palestinian people, particularly in the Gaza Strip, highlighting the ongoing starvation and continuous violations affecting the population. She underscored the importance of relying on reports issued by international and United Nations organizations to understand the scale of the humanitarian challenges and their long-term impact on future generations.
She further discussed the situation in the West Bank and the increasing challenges facing Palestinian communities, emphasizing that the current phase requires greater awareness and innovative thinking to address national and social challenges. She encouraged young people to invest in their skills and capacities and to expand their knowledge, particularly in the fields of education, languages, and technology.
Dr. Hamad affirmed that Palestinian youth constitute a fundamental pillar of national development, calling for greater individual and social responsibility, adherence to national identity and belonging, and openness to the world in ways that enable young people to contribute to building a better future for Palestine.
For her part, H.E. the Belgian Consul General reaffirmed Belgium’s commitment to supporting initiatives that empower young people and promote their civic engagement. She highlighted the importance of providing a safe and supportive environment that enables youth to develop their capacities and contribute effectively to their communities. She also stressed the importance of strengthening protection and mental health and psychosocial support services for young people and ensuring their meaningful participation in designing initiatives and programmes that respond to their needs and aspirations, emphasizing that strong societies are built upon empowered individuals who are able to participate and drive positive change.
Following the opening session, Dr. Hamad held an open dialogue with the participating youth, listening to their interventions, questions, and proposals, and responding to their inquiries on social and youth-related issues and the challenges they face. She reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to strengthening communication with young people and involving them in the design of policies and programmes that directly affect them.
The workshop forms part of a broader consultative process led by the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel) to identify young people's needs and priorities and explore practical ways to strengthen their civic engagement. The outcomes of the consultations will contribute to the design of future interventions and upcoming calls for proposals under the Agency’s programme review process, ensuring that future initiatives are more responsive to youth needs and further enhance their role in leading change and sustainable development.