Zimam: Palestine’s fastest growing youth movement
Peaceworks condemns the actions of Hamas and the endless and senseless cycle of violence.
For more than 20 years, our organization has worked tirelessly to elevate and support the many brave Israelis and Palestinians striving to build a different reality for their societies. Your support today will be directed to humanitarian efforts in Palestine.
Emergency Proposal: Gaza War 2023
Emergency Relief
The-Day-After
The recent violence in Gaza and the West Bank demands urgent action. Over 1,300 Israelis and 3,500 Palestinians have lost their lives. The unprecedented scale of violence is evidence that this conflict cannot be managed. As responsible individuals and groups with shared values to end the conflict and live in peace and prosperity, we must take action immediately to push for ending the occupation, establishing an independent Palestinian state and fostering peaceful relations between nations in the region.
Preparing for the-day-after begins now. Accordingly, Zimam is already working in two directions. First, working on emergency relief in Gaza, focusing on essential needs like food, water, hygiene, and shelter. Second, launching a program to think through the story that we would like to tell once the violence is over and beginning to execute activities and strategic action to maintain our narrative of hope, possibility, and shared humanity.
Zimam, operating with two dedicated staff members and a network of hundreds of committed volunteers in Gaza, faces immense challenges due to the ongoing conflict. Displaced from their homes and enduring personal turmoil, the Zimam team, however, persists in organizing impactful humanitarian activities despite the risks. These efforts include feeding thousands of people and offering support to the vulnerable children of Gaza.
Despite the initial hardships, Peaceworks' funding has empowered the team, enabling them to carry out remarkable work. In the initial weeks of the war, distressing WhatsApp messages filled with images of destruction were the norm. Recently, however, the team has thrived, donning Zimam logos on yellow vests and engaging in activities like food distribution, cooking, and playing with children.
Gaza's young population, constituting approximately half of the residents, bears the brunt of the conflict's impact. Zimam reports distressing signs among these children, including anxiety, fear, nightmares, and emotional withdrawal. Recognizing the urgent need for emotional support, Zimam is organizing activities in southern Gaza, distributing toys, snacks, and fostering joy through clowns, engaging games, and various activities.
In a heartening move, Zimam has facilitated communication between children in the West Bank and Gaza, allowing them to share their fears and hopes for an end to the war. Additionally, Zimam has conducted its first pulse survey of attitudes in the West Bank, with a follow-up planned for next week. Normal programming will also resume in the West Bank during this time.
This crisis is an unprecedented opportunity for change. Preparedness allows us to shape the narrative, strategically supporting a political resolution through our critical partner institutions—the Institute for Social and Economic Progress and media channel, Masa7a. Funding covers opinion polls, media production, buying, and mental health support.
Polling is crucial to understanding and shaping the narrative aligned with our strategy. It helps plan for the post-war political shift and uses a hope framework to foster peace. Our priority is maintaining the narrative of hope and shared humanity despite the ongoing crisis, supporting partners, conducting field visits, and strengthening trust across communities.
Zimam is the foremost progressive movement in Palestine. They are taking steps to usher in a future where accountable leadership and responsible citizenry are at the forefront. Their powerful vision - Palestine 2030 - is backed up by their work with thousands of young Palestinians throughout both the West Bank and Gaza to inspire and empower these new leaders to transform their societies. In doing so, Zimam is offering young people an alternative to extremism, as well as encouraging a respect for others, tolerance, and diversity.