Amid the difficult circumstances facing Palestinians, the experience of Marah Ma’alla Club has emerged as a model of a local youth initiative striving to support children and caregivers psychologically and socially, through an active partnership with the Student Forum Institute.

The club was established by a group of young men and women from the town of Marah Ma’alla, with the Student Forum Institute playing a key role in its launch and development. Since its inception, the club has focused on implementing community-based activities and expanding its network with local and international organizations, which has helped strengthen its members’ fieldwork skills and their ability to lead grassroots initiatives.

Through this collaboration, club members took part in training programs offered by War Child, including the 'Team Up' program — designed to provide psychosocial support sessions for children aged 6 to 17. The program focused on interactive activities such as drawing, coloring, and guided conversations, aiming to support children’s mental well-being and help ease the stress caused by their difficult reality.

Sadeel Majdi Abu Shuqra, one of the participants in the program, shared that the activities helped her learn simple yet effective skills, such as expressing herself through drawing, maintaining cleanliness, and refraining from bullying.
As for Dana Abdullah Abu Shuqra, she says the program strengthened her ability to communicate positively and respect herself, by encouraging children to express themselves without using negative language.

The club also implemented activities under the CSI program, which targets caregivers within families and aims to support parents and enhance their skills in dealing with children, with a focus on psychological well-being, education, general health, and community engagement.

Mhmoud Taqatqa, a member of the Marah Ma'alla Club, says that working with children under the current circumstances requires psychological awareness and the ability to handle feelings of fear and anxiety. He adds that the activities carried out by the club focused on concepts such as building friendships, mutual respect, and self-development.

Asma Youssef, one of the participants in the CSI program, believes that this type of intervention is beneficial for the entire family, as it’s not limited to parents alone but includes everyone involved in caring for children within the household.

At the conclusion of the experience, Abdullah Abu Shuqra, the club coordinator, emphasizes that these partnerships have helped strengthen Marah Ma’alla Club’s presence as an active youth group capable of implementing meaningful community initiatives in collaboration with local and international organizations.

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.