(MENAFN - Arab News) The Wasl group, affiliated to the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), has launched the "Leqaona Maqdesi Meeting on Jerusalem" project to create new ideas, skills, and a youth-based intellectual dialogue on the Palestinian cause.
The project involves young women of ages 17-27, especially but not exclusively Palestinians, across the Kingdom. A launching event was organized to discuss this project at 4 Shabab Caf in Jeddah.
The event aimed to create in-depth awareness on the Palestine cause. During the discussions, various speakers from different universities participated to communicate Palestinian issues among young attendees.
The youth-oriented project is divided into two parts. The first part is academical - to give information about Palestinian matters - while the second consists of creating an intellectual dialogue to discuss the Palestinian issue. The latter is aimed at achieving a decisive outcome to produce practical projects to serve the Palestinian cause.
In her welcome speech, Shaimaa Al-Farra, president of the Leqaona Maqdesi projects, said: "The meeting aims to discuss the project, which involves intellectual dialogues on 10 topics concerning the Palestinian issue that will enrich our knowledge and help us to support the cause.
"We hope such events result in brightening up the horizons of change and reform, freedom, and openness among the youths with regard to the lingering Palestine issue."
The project's main objective is to raise awareness among youngsters and correct the misconceptions regarding the Palestinian cause. The various sessions of the meeting provided the participants with an advanced level of knowledge on the issue.
Abdul Musin Hilal, ex-professor of political science at Umm Al-Qura University, praised the Wasl members and said: "The initiative of creating the Wasl group will educate and empower youth against social, economical and political challenges in the Palestinian society, which the Israeli occupation has aggravated. Youth have been denied educational opportunities, sites for cultural activities, and community development resources. Wasl works on creating a core of young community leaders, especially among Palestinian youths who will act as active citizens taking up the responsibility for the needs and toward the development of the community."
The event included a series of discussions and presentations. "The Leqaona Maqdesi project will help young influential people to develop and defend the cause through intellectual and persuasive dialogue. Eventually, this will help to serve the Palestinian case through practical projects," said Shatha Al-Shehry, a Wasl official. "Meetings will be organized once a month at the College of Business Administration to spread awareness on and knowledge of the Palestinian issue."
Wasl expects to hold its first annual forum on Palestine in Saudi Arabia soon and to establish a specialized academy to serve the cause.
