MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, PALESTINE – Muhammadiyah has reaffirmed its commitment to Palestinian independence by empowering Palestinian youth to become agents of peace. Through the Muhammadiyah Department of International Relations and Cooperation (LHKI), Muhammadiyah, in collaboration with Witness-Syahid Center, recently conducted a capacity-building workshop for 25 Palestinian youth, 23 of them were women, from diverse backgrounds.
The workshop, held in Nablus, Palestine on July 22, focused on equipping young Palestinians with the skills and knowledge needed to promote peace and reconciliation in their communities. Participants, including individuals from not only Muslims but also minority groups such as Christians, Samaritans, and people with disabilities, engaged in discussions on peacebuilding, community resilience, and nonviolent conflict resolution.
The workshop aimed to foster a culture of peace among Palestinian youth, who have grown up amidst decades of conflict. Participants explored ways to address the challenges posed by cultural differences, political instability, and the ongoing Israeli occupation.
Olfat Suroor, a participant from a refugee camp, expressed her gratitude for the training, saying, “This training is very beneficial because I come from a refugee camp, and we need to improve civil peace in these camps.”
Encouraged by the success of the initial workshop, the Witness-Syahid Center and Muhammadiyah plan to expand their efforts with two additional workshops in August. These workshops will target university students from the West Bank such as Arab American University, Al-Quds Open University, Birzeit University, and Al-Ahliyya College, focusing on conflict resolution, multicultural dialogue, and community cohesion.
The upcoming workshops aspire to involve Palestinian youth from 48 Israeli-occupied territories. By empowering the next generation of Palestinian leaders, Muhammadiyah hopes to contribute to a lasting peace in the region.
Furthermore, the Chairperson of Muhammadiyah Syafiq Mughni reiterated Muhammadiyah support for the Palestinian cause. Muhammadiyah has consistently opposed modern colonialism, including the Israeli occupation of Palestine. “
“We have provided significant support to Palestine through education, community empowerment, and humanitarian aid,” said Syafiq.
