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\u2019s difficult circumstances and repeated closures due to the war, the need for a safe, simple space became clear \u2014 a place that could offer people a sense of relief.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And from that need, the \u201cSafe Space\u201d initiative was born \u2014 launched by the \u201cYouth Freedom Pioneers\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ahmad Taqatqa, the group\u2019s coordinator, says:
\u201cWe 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 \u2014 a place where young people and families could spend time in comfort and safety.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Umm Salamuna is located in an area surrounded from several sides, bordered to the north by the \u201cEfrat\u201d 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Taqatqa pointed out that the group\u2019s idea came in response to the village\u2019s and village council\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n