UNESCO Concludes Youth-Led Psychosocial Initiatives Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being in the West Bank

In partnership with the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and implemented by the Palestinian Counseling Center, UNESCO supported crisis-affected children, youth, and their families in the West Bank by strengthening their resilience and fostering safer, more supportive learning environments. Central to this effort was empowering university students to move beyond theory and actively apply mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) approaches within their own communities.

Students and academic supervisors from Birzeit University, Hebron University, and An-Najah National University came together for an intensive practice-oriented capacity-building journey. The training adopted a trauma-informed and experiential approach, focusing on self-awareness, professional identity development, and the hands-on design and implementation of psychosocial initiatives. In total, 22 students completed the training, equipped with the skills and confidence to translate learning into action.

During the training, students were organized into three university-based teams. Each team developed a community-centered psychosocial initiative tailored to its local context and specific target group. The initiatives were grounded in participatory and expressive methodologies, ensuring ethical practice, inclusivity, and direct relevance to the everyday challenges faced by children and youth.

Following the training, students implemented three community initiatives tailored to local needs:

• Hebron University students implemented "Point of Connection" in Eastern Masafer Yatta to reduce stress and strengthen safe interaction among school children. One child in expressed happiness simply because "someone came to our school," underscoring the psychosocial value of presence, attention, and care.

• An-Najah National University launched "Our Palestine: United Through Diversity" to enhance social cohesion and collective identity through cultural and expressive activities.

• Birzeit University led "Pulse of Volunteering," aiming to revive volunteering as a meaningful social and national value among university youth.

By placing youth at the center of psychosocial action, this initiative demonstrated that when young people are trusted, trained, and supported, they can become powerful agents of positive change. Supporting mental health is not only about healing, but also about strengthening learning, restoring dignity, and contributing to a more resilient future for Palestinian communities.