Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation
Encyclopedia
The Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation (PYALARA) is a youth-oriented Palestinian
communication and media non-governmental organization designed to provide a creative outlet for young Palestinians frustrated by the harsh conditions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
. Palestinians are taught to express themselves through written, oral, and media communications published in a monthly newspaper The Youth Times and a weekly television program, Alli Sowtak (Speak Up).
PYALARA uses an open, two-way communication system, rather than the one-way pedagogic method favored by most educational institutions, to impart knowledge. The focus is on empowerment through learning about the rights of children and youth, civil and legal rights during conflict, team-building, raising cultural awareness, protecting the environment and social activism. Students participate in journalism, counseling, and advocacy to overcome the marginalization and alienation of youth.
PYALARA is as a major strategic partner for UNICEF and works closely with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Palestinian universities and colleges, many secondary schools, and several other NGOs.
The organization’s Director General is Ms. Hania Bitar.
, a publication of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
, criticised PYALARA, expressing "particular concern" over its publication of an article about Abu Ali Mustafa
, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
who was assassinated by Israeli forces in 2001. NGO Monitor criticised this as "us[ing] funds that are donated explicitly for non-political and non-violent projects in order to promote blatantly political objectives, including the indirect support for terror attacks on civilians." NGO Monitor also said that publications on PYALARA's website revealed a "non non-violent approach" and "a covert justification for suicide bombing."
Palestinian territories
The Palestinian territories comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since the Palestinian Declaration of Independence in 1988, the region is today recognized by three-quarters of the world's countries as the State of Palestine or simply Palestine, although this status is not recognized by the...
communication and media non-governmental organization designed to provide a creative outlet for young Palestinians frustrated by the harsh conditions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. The conflict is wide-ranging, and the term is also used in reference to the earlier phases of the same conflict, between Jewish and Zionist yishuv and the Arab population living in Palestine under Ottoman or...
. Palestinians are taught to express themselves through written, oral, and media communications published in a monthly newspaper The Youth Times and a weekly television program, Alli Sowtak (Speak Up).
PYALARA uses an open, two-way communication system, rather than the one-way pedagogic method favored by most educational institutions, to impart knowledge. The focus is on empowerment through learning about the rights of children and youth, civil and legal rights during conflict, team-building, raising cultural awareness, protecting the environment and social activism. Students participate in journalism, counseling, and advocacy to overcome the marginalization and alienation of youth.
PYALARA is as a major strategic partner for UNICEF and works closely with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Palestinian universities and colleges, many secondary schools, and several other NGOs.
The organization’s Director General is Ms. Hania Bitar.
Criticism
In 2003 NGO MonitorNGO Monitor
NGO Monitor is a non-governmental organization based in Jerusalem, Israel whose stated aim is to generate and distribute critical analysis and reports on the output of the international NGO community for the benefit of government policy makers, journalists, philanthropic organizations and the...
, a publication of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs
The Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs is a public policy think tank devoted to research and analysis of critical issues facing the Middle East. The center is located in Jerusalem, Israel...
, criticised PYALARA, expressing "particular concern" over its publication of an article about Abu Ali Mustafa
Abu Ali Mustafa
Abu Ali Mustafa , , the kunya of Mustafa Alhaj a.k.a. Mustafa Ali Zibri, was the Secretary General of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine from July 2000 until he was killed by Israel forces.-Biography:...
, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine is a Palestinian Marxist-Leninist organisation founded in 1967. It has consistently been the second-largest of the groups forming the Palestine Liberation Organization , the largest being Fatah...
who was assassinated by Israeli forces in 2001. NGO Monitor criticised this as "us[ing] funds that are donated explicitly for non-political and non-violent projects in order to promote blatantly political objectives, including the indirect support for terror attacks on civilians." NGO Monitor also said that publications on PYALARA's website revealed a "non non-violent approach" and "a covert justification for suicide bombing."