Awareness activity on the local elections in cooperation with Al-Quds Open University – Nablus Branch

Nablus – Local Communities Foundation, in partnership with RASED Palestine coalition, implemented an awareness activity on the local elections in cooperation with Al-Quds Open University – Nablus Branch, as part of efforts to enhance students’ awareness of the importance of participating in the electoral process.

In his opening remarks, Professor Dr. Husni Awad, Director of Al-Quds Open University – Nablus Branch, welcomed the participating students and representatives of Local Communities Foundation and RASED Palestine coalition, affirming that the university considers such activities an integral part of its educational and community mission aimed at building responsible national awareness among students. He noted that fostering a culture of democratic participation begins within academic institutions, which serve as a space for critical thinking and constructive dialogue, stressing the importance of empowering students to understand their roles as active citizens capable of contributing to the development of their communities through informed and responsible participation in elections.

For his part, Mr. Haidar Kayyed, Student Affairs Coordinator at the branch, emphasized the importance of such initiatives in strengthening students’ role in public life and encouraging their positive engagement in community issues, thereby reinforcing their presence as an active component in society.

In turn, Mr. Moatasem Zayed, Director of Local Communities Foundation, explained that this activity comes within the organization’s efforts to promote informed civic participation, particularly among youth, as a fundamental pillar of any democratic process. He added that the activity goes beyond knowledge transfer, aiming instead to build positive attitudes among students toward elections and to enhance their ability to distinguish between accurate and misleading information, contributing to a more aware and transparent electoral environment.

In the same context, Mr. Riyad Khanfar, Coordinator of RASED Palestine coalition, welcomed the participating students and expressed his appreciation to Al-Quds Open University for hosting the activity and for its commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen community participation. Khanfar highlighted the important role students can play in disseminating electoral awareness within their communities, especially as election day approaches, stressing the need to convey awareness messages to different segments of society and to encourage citizens to participate actively and responsibly in the elections, in a way that enhances the integrity of the electoral process and reinforces democratic principles.

At the conclusion of the activity, university students distributed electoral awareness materials issued by the Central Elections Commission to their peers on campus, in addition to posting awareness and guidance materials. Students and activists from RASED Palestine coalition will also work on distributing these materials widely in their residential areas where elections will take place, contributing to expanding electoral awareness among citizens.