In the peaceful village of Artas, south of Bethlehem, where greenery embraces the stones of history, the scent of the land rises — not just from the soil, but from young hearts that still believe farming is a form of resistance… and that returning to the land is the first step on the path.

Here, at the "Agricultural Land Cooperative," a group of young people decided to bring agriculture back to the soul of the village. They launched an initiative titled: "Strengthening the Resilience of Young Farmers."

The beginning wasn’t easy. The land was there, but it was tired and neglected, needing someone to care for it again. Among the seedlings and seeds, and with support from the Student Forum Institute, the seeds of the initiative began to grow.

Fadi Sanad, a cooperative member, says as he runs his fingers over a tray of seedlings:
“We worked on planting local seeds, produced by the farmers themselves… the Batiri eggplant, the Sahouri squash, the cucumber whose taste reminds us of the old days. These seeds are part of our identity.”

In every corner of the land’s nursery, there is a story. Seedlings grow with the warmth of young hands, a greenhouse stands built through volunteer efforts, and shelves are carefully sanitized because “honesty with the land” begins with the small details.

Ramzi Abu Suway, the nursery manager, speaks with a tired smile as he recalls how it all began:
“Fifteen years ago, we were a group of young people who loved the land. We started with simple volunteering, and over time we realized that Artas is a purely agricultural village, but it was forgetting itself. Step by step, we brought back the pulse of farming.”

But farming in Artas was never just a local goal; the cooperative began expanding its efforts to other villages and governorates — from Hebron to Ramallah — making the seedlings a message of life spreading from the land to the entire homeland.

Rasha Al-Qaisi, the project’s administrative and financial officer, speaks with clear enthusiasm:
“Women’s presence in agriculture is not new, but our role today is to keep that role ongoing and recognized. We work on raising agricultural awareness among the new generation, especially girls.”

The initiative wasn’t limited to production — it took on deeper social dimensions as well:
Reviving agri-tourism, organizing awareness workshops, and collaborating with community-based organizations.
Rasha says: “Farming isn’t just a profession… it’s a way of life — and it’s what can restore the farmer’s dignity and resilience.”

The village once known for its greenery is now returning as a destination for those seeking clean food, memories, and hope.

In a joint initiative with the Student Forum Institute, the cooperative now works to support farmers in threatened and confiscated areas—because land can only be protected by those who remain rooted in it.

“The land knows its people…”
"And these young people, with every seedling they plant, grow deeper roots in the land and stronger faith that the future is cultivated by our own hands."

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.