In a small village south of Bethlehem, where daily life is squeezed by surrounding settlements and bypass roads, a group of young women and men set out to create change.
Amid the country’s difficult circumstances and repeated closures due to the war, the need for a safe, simple space became clear — a place that could offer people a sense of relief.

And from that need, the “Safe Space” initiative was born — launched by the “Youth Freedom Pioneers” group in the village of Umm Salamuna, in collaboration with the Student Forum Institute and with support from local authorities, the village council, and other youth groups in the community.

Ahmad Taqatqa, the group’s coordinator, says:
“We saw that the village needed a breathing space, so we started by cleaning up an abandoned plot of farmland and turning it into a natural, open, and clean area — a place where young people and families could spend time in comfort and safety.”

Umm Salamuna is located in an area surrounded from several sides, bordered to the north by the “Efrat” settlement, with the bypass road leading to the Tekoa settlements passing nearby. With limited public spaces in the village, the land that was restored became the only breathing space for the residents, especially for children and families.

Taqatqa pointed out that the group’s idea came in response to the village’s and village council’s needs, aiming to enhance youth political participation within local bodies. He noted that the group was launched after several meetings with SFI and in this way, they realized the necessity of having an active youth body in the village, one that has its own voice, activities, and programs.

Mundher Abu Hayyan, one of the activists in the group, says:
“We worked together as young men and women to revive, clean, and organize the land, turning it into a natural and safe green space.”

Mahmoud Naseem adds:
“We cleared the weeds, leveled the soil, and built stone terraces. I felt like we brought life back to a forgotten piece of land. What’s even better is that it became a real breathing space for families and for us as youth.”

As for Mohammad Taqatqa, he emphasized that the initiative was not just about cleaning a piece of land, but about creating a sense of belonging and responsibility, and fostering a spirit of teamwork among the village residents. He added:
“When everyone participated, we felt like we had a place to protect, care for, and be proud of — both among ourselves and in front of visitors.”

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.