Ref:
09-2015

On
Thursday, 02 April 2015, the Training Unit at the Palestinian Center for Human
Rights (PCHR) concluded a training course on advocacy and campaigning, which is
part of the 2-year “Strengthening Human Rights and Access to Information
in the Gaza Strip” project funded by the EU. The concluding ceremony
included the distribution of certificates to 35 participants from 10 CBOs in
the Gaza Strip, 10 PCHR staff members and 5 other friends of PCHR to conclude four
intensive training days on drafting strategies of campaigning and advocacy and
capacity-building of partner organizations in this field.

Mohammed
Abu Hashem, an expert in the field of advocacy and campaigning, trained the
participants on that field. He facilitated the 28-hour training course from 23
March 2015 to 02 April 2015 in the Commodore Hotel in Gaza City. Abu Hashem
prepared the training material in a way to build the participants’ capacity in
campaigning. Concerning this outstanding experience in the Gaza Strip, Abu
Hashem said, “What was distinct about this training is that it covered new
topics such as the theory of change, the map and philosophy of powers and the
mechanism of dealing with the media”. He added, “The training was not
only theoretical, but also practical by dividing the participants into five groups
and allowing them to draft five different advocacy campaigns of which the best
campaign would be chosen and implemented in real life under the supervision of
PCHR and the participation of partner organizations”.

Concerning
the significance and effectiveness of participants in the training, Mr. Jaber
Weshah, the project’s director, said in the concluding ceremony, “The
training course targeted young participants, who have the initiative and
ability to change reality to the best, and to positively react to their
concerns”.  Mr. Weshah encouraged
the participants to share the experience and information they received with
their organizations and society to have positive effect in reality. Mr. Bassam
al-Aqra’, Director of PCHR’s Training Unit, said, “The relationship
between PCHR on the one hand and trainees and their organizations on the other
hand does not end by the end of training. This relationship starts and enhances
after the training”. He stressed that PCHR is open for everybody to
benefit from its expertise.

The
participants praised PCHR’s efforts aiming at improving the society mobilization
and have positive impact on society. Islam Badwan, a participant from the
Society of Women Graduates appreciated PCHR’s role in disseminating advocacy
and campaigning culture not by theory but by practice too. Mr. Majed al-Aqra’
from Heker al-Jame’ Youth Centre appreciated the course and praised the
dedication of the trainers and the use of diverse interactive training
methods.  He added that active participation and discussion during the
training sessions had enriched the course. He called for holding other courses
because they are important in mobilizing community powers to claim their rights
and make change.