In the alleys of Dheisheh Camp, south of Bethlehem, where life is constrained by political hardships and repeated raids, a group of young people chose to be a beacon of light within their community, carrying a clear message: “We exist, and we are capable of making a change.”

Since its establishment in 2015, the Volunteer Action Group in the camp has aimed to transform the spirit of volunteering into a way of life. It was founded in response to a real community need and began its journey with a small group of young people who decided to dedicate their time and ideas as a resource for the camp and its residents.

Anas Abu Joudeh, the group coordinator, says:
“We started as a small youth group, but today we’ve become an important part of people’s lives here. We carried out various trainings and workshops, painted murals on walls, cleaned the camp’s streets and alleys, and launched initiatives to support farmers and local markets.”

Among their notable activities, the group organized two markets to support Palestinian farmers, which helped strengthen the local economy and encourage national production. They also carried out environmental and cleaning activities that contributed to improving the overall environment within the camp.

But the work didn’t stop at improving the general appearance; it extended to bringing smiles to children’s faces. In one of their most prominent initiatives, the group organized a recreational activity as part of the “Days of Joy” initiative, which included a field trip for children away from the daily pressures of life and the conditions imposed by the occupation.

Abdullah Faraj, one of the group supervisors, says:
“We wanted to give the children a day free of stress… a day to be happy, run around, and feel that someone cares about them.”

As for Hamza Sarasrah, one of the children participating in the trip, he said with a big smile:
“I was very happy with the trip… we forgot the war for a while, laughed, and had fun.”

At the end of the day, the children left the activity site carrying moments of hope and memories full of joy. As for the youth group, they knew that what they had done was not just a fleeting activity, but a long-term investment in the camp’s spirit and cohesion.

For these young people, the camp is not just a place, but a canvas they strive to paint every day with their actions. Cleaning the streets, organizing initiatives, supporting children — all small steps that draw a long path toward hope and change.

This story was produced as part of the “Youth in Decision-Making” project, implemented by the Student Forum Institute in partnership with Norwegian People's Aid (NPA).