Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation
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The Palestinian Youth Association for Leadership and Rights Activation (PYALARA) is a youth-oriented Palestinian communication and media non-governmental organization designed to provide a creative outlet for young Palestinians frustrated by the harsh conditions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Palestinians are taught to express themselves through written, oral, and media communications published in a monthly newspaper The Youth Times and a weekly television program, Alli Sowtak (Speak Up).
PYALARA uses an open, two-way communication system, rather than the one-way pedagogic method favored by most educational institutions, to impart knowledge. The focus is on empowerment through learning about the rights of children and youth, civil and legal rights during conflict, team-building, raising cultural awareness, protecting the environment and social activism. Students participate in journalism, counseling, and advocacy to overcome the marginalization and alienation of youth.
PYALARA is as a major strategic partner for UNICEF and works closely with the Palestinian Ministry of Education, Ministry of Information, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Palestinian universities and colleges, many secondary schools, and several other NGOs.
The organization’s Director General is Ms. Hania Bitar.
[edit] Criticism
In 2003 NGO Monitor, a publication of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, criticised PYALARA, expressing "particular concern" over its publication of an article about Abu Ali Mustafa, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who was assassinated by Israeli forces in 2001. NGO Monitor criticised this as "us[ing] funds that are donated explicitly for non-political and non-violent projects in order to promote blatantly political objectives, including the indirect support for terror attacks on civilians." NGO Monitor also said that publications on PYALARA's website revealed a "non non-violent approach" and "a covert justification for suicide bombing."
NGO Monitor accused PYALARA of taking a "blatantly ideological approach, which undermines the positive aspects of its work". NGO Monitor said that PYALARA engaged in "selective criticism and education" and that "no effort is made to understand the Jewish position and there is no criticism of Palestinian society."
