At a time when the geographical distance between Palestine and its people around the world is widening, and the need to build new forms of connection that go beyond fleeting visits or emotional attachment is growing, a fundamental question emerges: How can belonging be transformed into active participation, memory into experience, and the expertise accumulated by Palestinians in the diaspora into added value that contributes to Palestine’s present and future?
Driven by this question, Taawon (Welfare Association), in partnership with Al-Nayzak’s Horizon Academy and The Palestinian Museum, has launched the "Sura" programme. This initiative combines practical training, learning, and direct engagement within Palestinian institutions and communities, offering Palestinian youth in the diaspora an opportunity to build a deeper and more sustainable relationship with Palestine through an integrated professional and educational experience.
The programme is built on a shared vision that sees Palestinian youth, wherever they may be, as an integral part of Palestine’s human capital. It stems from the conviction that the knowledge and expertise they have accumulated in universities, institutions, and labour markets around the world constitute a vital resource. By bringing this together with the local expertise of Palestinian institutions, the programme aims to create opportunities for mutual learning and to foster new ideas, partnerships, and approaches that benefit participants, institutions, and Palestinian society alike.
Sura allows participants to gain practical experience within Palestinian institutions, alongside a comprehensive itinerary of meetings, visits, and educational and cultural activities. This opens a window for them to understand contemporary Palestine through its institutions and society, rather than solely through inherited narratives, while also giving Palestinian institutions the opportunity to benefit from expertise and perspectives shaped in diverse academic and professional contexts around the world.
"For over four decades, Taawon has invested in the Palestinian individual as our people’s most valuable asset," said Dr. Tareq Emtairah, Director General of Taawon. "Today, we see Palestinian youth in the diaspora as an extension of this vision; they carry knowledge and experiences gained from around the world, alongside a deep-rooted sense of belonging to Palestine. The Sura programme bridges these two dimensions, transforming belonging into experience, expertise into partnership, and the relationship with Palestine into a tangible contribution to building its future."
Amer Shomali, Director of The Palestinian Museum, added: "The experience of The Palestinian Museum over the past years has taught us that many challenges can, with determination and will, be turned into opportunities. Just as we transformed limited physical access to the museum into a presence that transcends geography, and just as we turned the dispersion and loss of a large part of our heritage and collections into an opportunity to build partnerships and exhibitions shaped by Palestinians and institutions from different parts of the world, we look at the Palestinian diaspora through the same lens. Young people who have grown up, studied, and worked in different academic, professional, and cultural contexts carry experiences that many in Palestine have not had the opportunity to undergo."
Shomali continued: "For us, these experiences do not represent an absence from Palestine so much as an extension of its collective experience and knowledge. When this meets the local knowledge accumulated by our institutions, new questions emerge, horizons of thought expand, and approaches develop that neither context could produce alone. In our view, this is one of the most important goals that the Sura programme seeks to achieve, both for the participants and for our institutions alike."
Al Nayzak Organization for Supportive Education and Scientific Innovation also emphasised that the programme aligns with its mission to invest in youth and build educational experiences that go beyond the classroom, fostering critical thinking, leadership, and engagement with reality, and enabling Palestinian youth to translate knowledge into community impact.
Dr. Aref Al-Husseini, President of Al Nayzak Organization for Supportive Education and Scientific Innovation, said: "Every generation has a responsibility to learn from the past, engage with the present, and help build a better future. Founded on this belief, Sura gives young professionals around the world the opportunity to strengthen their connection to home by engaging with inspiring institutions, accomplished professionals, and vibrant communities. More than a professional development program, Sura nurtures leadership, fosters belonging, and empowers participants to create lasting positive impact.”
He added: "I firmly believe that when young people are empowered with knowledge, given the trust to take responsibility, and provided with real opportunities for leadership, they become a force."
The first edition of the Sura programme is scheduled to launch this autumn, targeting Palestinian students, recent graduates, and young professionals residing in countries across the diaspora. Participants will embark on a journey that combines practical training, knowledge exchange, and direct engagement in Palestinian institutional and cultural life.
For more information and application details, please visit: https://sura.ps/en