YaLa Citizen Journalists for Peace

This project trains and empowers Israeli Palestinian and other Middle Eastern and North African young leaders as peace advocates. One hundred female and male young leaders are trained in citizen journalism storytelling the use of new media and video and photo journalism. Participants use these newly acquired skills to promote messages of peaceful coexistence on-line and within their networks and communities. Activities include: on-line training courses in-person workshops and a regional conference. This project provides a vital space for dialogue and opportunities for people-to-people relationships across conflict lines and builds a network of young leaders who want to promote peace.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) increased use of new media by 100 Middle Eastern young leaders to promote messages of peace to wider audiences; (2) increased engagement in productive dialogue with those from other groups among 100 Middle Eastern young leaders; and (3) enhanced ties among Middle Eastern young leaders active in the larger YaLa alumni network.