
Jerusalem24 – Shiam is a locally registered non-profit organization that aims to spread principles of good citizenry, democracy, and good governance among Palestinian youth.
Shiam recently implemented its Youth Challenge Bootcamp 2022 in Palestine, funded and supported by UNICEF as part of the Generation Unlimited Initiative to create solutions to combat climate change and all types of violence.
Ten teams of three to six members from the West Bank and Gaza joined the Youth Challenge (launched in Mid-April) to find creative and innovative solutions to these challenges. A total of 26 female youths and 21 male youths participated in the program.
Shiam’s General Manager George Kapataies told Vibes that this challenge aims to equip innovators from all of Palestine to create solutions to accelerate sustainable development goals related to “combating climate change” and “all types of violence,” through various approaches including education, employment, and civic engagement, using a Human Center Design training approach.
Kapataies said, “The participants were introduced to Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) with a special focus on climate change and conducted in-depth work on Business Canvas as a first step in turning their entrepreneurial ideas into real-life ventures.”
The challenge included working on marketing mechanisms, Pitch Deck, Problem Tree analysis, and how to align the needs of the targeted community and the goals of the participating entrepreneurial ventures. In addition to conducting financial analysis, participants continued to work on the business canvas and prepare for the pitch day presentations.
The five winning teams – two from Gaza and three from the West Bank – are:
- Limitless Minds: Using AI as a method to combat mental abuse
- Al-Sawsan Al-Malaki: Enhancing biodiversity of Palestine through reintroducing Al-Sawsan Al-Malaki plant.
- The Environment Council: Converting solid waste into renewable energy
- We Can: Holding awareness-raising workshops for abused women
- Golden Team: Producing and distributing high-quality strawberries in all parts of the West Bank
Listen to the full interview below.
https://soundcloud.com/24fmpalestine/vibes-723352809