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6 Nov, 2013

EU Helps Young Journalists Launch Initiative to Promote “Beautiful Palestine”

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JERUSALEM, November 2, 2013 (WAFA) – Young Palestinian journalists launched Friday an initiative that combines voluntary work as well as promotion of local tourism, said a press release by the European Union (EU).

The EU and Journalists without Borders (JWB) launched “Beautiful Palestine” initiative in partnership with young Palestinian journalists and photographers in an effort to discover and promote different historic and touristic sites in the West Bank.

In the course of November and December, Palestinian youth will carry out voluntary activities in four locations in Nablus, Bethlehem, Salfit, Tulkarm and Jericho governorates and report on their experiences in an effort to promote domestic tourism.

“This initiative is unique as it combines youth voluntary work, media, and promotion of domestic tourism,” said the EU Representative John Gatt-Rutter. “We are looking forward to visiting the different locations and seeing how young people will document their experiences and find ways to encourage others to visit.”

Around 100 young Palestinian media students and young journalists visited the Old City of Nablus on Friday and joined youth from the local community to repair Qaryoun square at the heart of the Old City.

The group then had a guided tour through Old Nablus where they visited Al Badr soap factory – established 800 years ago-, saw the making of ‘Knafa’ at one of the oldest workshops and visited one of the landmarks of the old city, the Turkish bath “hammam al-Shefa’.

“The Old City of Nablus is the best starting point,” said Gatt-Rutter. “We were there just a few months ago to inaugurate the renovation of the EU funded project Khan Al Wakala, which is only one of the many landmarks of the Old City.”

Shadi Zama’reh, the director of Journalists without Borders, expressed gratitude to the EU for supporting this initiative.

‘This initiative comes in line with our mission as a youth organization. Through the planned activities, young people will have the chance to volunteer and help local communities while enhancing their professional skill and using them to serve a national interest: the promotion of domestic tourism,” he said.