As OneVoice Palestinian Leadership Program Manager, Leena Shtayeh, 25, learned how to recruit and train young Palestinians against extremism. The motivation and leadership skills came in handy in April and May, when she campaigned in the Municipal elections in her village. Her success raised eyebrows, as she gained the most votes even as she was the youngest candidate throughout the Municipal elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A native from the village of Salem near Nablus, Leena is passionately committed to the OneVoice values and mission and will continue training youth through OV as she fulfills her municipal duties. Palestinian Executive Director Nisreen Shaheen explained “Leena shows that when you activate young people, they can reach positive important positions. The election showed the Palestinian people understand the importance of trusting young people in democratic decision making.”
This month’s personal essay comes from Leena, immediately below:
When I decided to participate in the Municipal elections as a candidate, I was totally confident that its an important step for different reasons first because I am young 25, second I am a female, third is my belief in youth role in the change process and fourth is what I am already doing through my work with OV; training and mobilizing youth to take the lead in transforming people's perceptions from violence to non-violence means as an alternative to resolve conflicts.
I am very happy for my success in the Municipal elections in my village Salem near Nablus, as the youngest candidate in WB and GS, because this ensures that young people have become more and more active and people trust them, my participation and success is a frank and strong invitation to all young people to take effective part in making change and building peaceful, democratic and viable state.
I am now a member in the Municipal council of my village, besides dedicating great time for my lovely job with OV-P as a Coordinator of the Leadership program, I should admit that the support I have got from my colleagues in OV, who eager for peace and independent state, was a great added value and a complementary work that encourage all citizens to raise their voice and participate in the decision making process.
I am very proud to pass through this experience and to succeed despite any obstacle, and I will do my best to help my people and to be a very optimistic, active and productive Palestinian woman.
Leena Shtayeh
Look at Leena’s Picture: http://www.silentnolonger.org/wps/WPS_PA_501/Links/PA_lina.jpg
(Caption from a local newspaper: Palestinian Youth emphasize their role in the leadership, Ms. Leena Shtayeh wins in the Municipal elections in Salem/Nablus).
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